Max Fried carried the New York Yankees through Gerrit Cole’s injury-era stress, but a troubling late-season stretch has surfaced. His last six starts yielded four or more runs each, inflating his ERA to a concerning mark and casting doubt on reliability entering the playoff push. A Saturday tilt in St. Louis underscored the volatility, as Fried battled to miss bats and left heart-of-the-strikezone pitches that Masyn Winn turned into a decisive three-run homer. Blister issues in the second half add another wildcard to his availability, complicating lineup decisions for fantasy managers.

New York’s rotation depth getting thin makes Fried indispensable, yet health and command fears loom large. The Yankees must decide whether to ride Fried through the rough patch or pivot to other arms as they cling to a wild-card spot. Winn’s breakout moment for the Cardinals punctuates the contrast: a strong young hitter providing genuine upside and a reminder that even elite pitching can be offset by on-field risk. The broader MLB news mix—Judge’s 29-team history, Kershaw’s clock-reset, Schwarber’s free-agent chatter, and Verlander’s retirement talk—keeps fantasy contexts fluid as rosters churn toward October.

In short, Fried’s next starts will be pivotal for both the Yankees’ fortunes and fantasy rosters anchored by him. Expect continued risk management around his blister dynamics and matchup-driven decisions, while Winn’s bat remains a tantalizing add for owners streaming Cardinals pieces or rostering up-and-coming hitters with big-contact upside.

Gerrit Cole stepped a meaningful milestone in his rehab from Tommy John surgery, tossing 20 flat-ground throws with solid accuracy and comfort. The session signals early progress in a plan that spans months to mound work and a typical 14‑month rehab, with Cole expecting a shutdown period before a normal offseason. The milestone comes as the Yankees navigate a three‑game set with the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium.

Contractually anchored to a $324 million pact through 2028, Cole’s path back is watched closely given his postseason workload and overall durability. His 2024 season was delayed by nerve irritation and edema, but he delivered in the playoffs and even joined YES Network for a game, underscoring the stakes of his return. Boone and the team stress patience and steady progression as the next phase begins.

The environment around his comeback remains the focus—twenty flat-ground throws today, a stepping stone toward mound work, and a long runway to full readiness. The Twins series offers a real crossroad: a test of his health and a gauge for how the rotation timeline might unfold for 2025.

As the New York Yankees sealed a 7-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, Giancarlo Stanton and his teammates anxiously awaited news of trades ahead of the 6 p.m. deadline. The Yankees made significant moves, acquiring All-Star closer David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates, alongside reliever Camilo Doval from the San Francisco Giants, pitcher Jake Bird from the Colorado Rockies, and shortstop José Caballero from the Rays. Stanton celebrated these additions, particularly praising the talents of Bednar and Doval, as well as Caballero's impressive 34 stolen bases this season. Stanton expressed optimism about the lineup's potential impact in the upcoming weeks.

While media outlets lauded the Yankees as trade deadline winners, there were concerns regarding their starting rotation after losing Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt to injuries. The return of reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil is anticipated to bolster the rotation, yet the Yankees still face challenges, as they lack a formidable third starter to support Carlos Rodón and Max Fried, who has struggled recently. With two months left in the season, the Yankees must navigate these uncertainties as they aim for playoff contention.