Yankees' Max Fried Exits Start with Elbow Soreness

BALTIMORE — New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried exited his start against the Baltimore Orioles after three innings on Wednesday due to left elbow soreness, raising concerns for the team's rotation amid a strong early season.

Fried, a 32-year-old three-time All-Star, allowed three runs on five hits, including two Baltimore scores in the third inning that prompted his departure. He walked straight to the tunnel, with reliever Paul Blackburn warming up as the Yankees batted in the fourth. Fried is scheduled for an examination Thursday in New York by team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad, which will include imaging to assess the injury.

The southpaw entered the game with a 2.91 ERA over nine starts this season, contributing to New York's rotation posting a 3.07 mark, among the best in the majors. The Yankees entered Wednesday with a 27-16 record. Fried's performance followed a previous outing at Milwaukee where he gave up five runs in six innings.

Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with New York after the 2024 season, the largest guaranteed deal for a left-handed pitcher. In his 2025 debut year with the Yankees, he made the All-Star team and finished fourth in...