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How will the first Gerrit Cole/Max Fried 1-2 punch look?

SB Nation · Jul 22, 2026 10:00 · 3 min read

How will the first Gerrit Cole/Max Fried 1-2 punch look?

Once again, the rotation is nearly at full strength.

The Yankees’ rotation has been a stalwart for most of the year, carrying them through the first third of the year and staying strong at the top even when some of their members started to rack up injuries. Cam Schlittler has emerged as a homegrown ace and potential Cy Young winner in his second season, Will Warren took a significant step forward before stumbling back over the last month or so, and Ryan Weathers proved a serviceable fifth starter for a while even if his tendency to give up the long ball has increased in frequency.

Two of the biggest names of this rotation, however, have both spent different parts of the season being a part of it. Max Fried has been the team’s best pitcher since signing with the team ahead of the 2025 season and began the year as their Opening Day starter, but he went down with a bone bruise in the middle of May and has been sitting on the IL ever since. Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole has been the staff ace since signing his megadeal ahead of the 2020 season, but the Yankees’ dreams of pairing him with Fried were delayed when he missed all of last year following Tommy John surgery. Cole returned from rehab shortly after Fried exited the rotation, practically trading spots on the roster. Since then Cole’s had an up-and-down return, initially looking strong before going through several poor starts in a row. His latest looked the closest to vintage Cole, holding the Dodgers to just four hits over six-plus, but he got left in just a little too long after arguing to stay on the mound and gave up a homer that ultimately lost them the game.

Now, for the first time since putting on the pinstripes, Gerrit Cole and Max Fried will both be on the roster and make consecutive starts for the Yankees. Fried is skipping the planned final start of his rehab and returning to the rotation to get the nightcap of today’s doubleheader, likely still staying in the realm of the 60-pitch limit he was going to have down in the minors. While he wasn’t as sharp as he was last year, Fried was still exceptional in the 10 starts he’s made thus far in 2026, and adding him back into the mix could be just what the doctor ordered for a rotation that’s been looking a little gassed trying to keep the game close enough for the slumping Yankee offense. Neither pitcher may be in their top ace form at the moment, but there’s still the entire second half for them to ramp up, get their arms back into shape, and peak at the right time.

So what will we see today, with the tandem of aces taking the mound and starting to fulfill the dream that the Yankee front office envisioned when they inked Fried to an eight-year deal? As mentioned Fried is likely not going to last long and will need a piggyback long reliever or a full effort from the bullpen utilizing the extra 27th man. Still, I could see him getting through four innings with the workload they’re hoping to get from him, perhaps into the fifth if he’s dealing. The Pirates are going to be a tough first test back for him though, and if he can get through the fourth with just a run or two on the board I’d have to imagine the Yankees take that as an overall win. Cole, on the other hand, is looking to clear any worries about his slide at the end of June. He’s pitched through at least six innings in two straight starts facing two first-place teams, and notching a third straight outing with similar results would certainly dispel those concerns. I think he can get it done, and re-establish the Yankees’ trio atop the rotation as one of the best in the game.

We’ll have a smaller platter of things going up on the site before we get into the doubleheader coverage, starting with Jonathan discussing Taylor Ward as a potential rental fit as Baltimore’s season crumbles around him. Andrew’s up next with the Rivalry Roundup featuring the Rays absolutely blowing out the Blue Jays, and then Jeff celebrates Sparky Lyle’s sterling career on his birthday.