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NEW YORK – Max Fried and Gerrit Cole had technically been teammates for the last 581 days.
Due to injury rehabs, the two stars hadn’t pitched together on the Yankees’ staff until Wednesday, when they lined up against the Pirates in a day-night doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.
“Something I’ve been looking forward to for a while now,’’ said Fried, whose five shut-out innings boosted the Yanks toward a 2-0 nightcap win and a doubleheader split.
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Cole had struck out 11 Pirates and walked none across seven innings in Wednesday’s opener but paid for surrendering two homers in a 5-3, 10-inning loss.
This was still a day to dream on, imagining an October when Cole and Fried – with Cam Schlittler making it an electric trio – march into a playoff series.
But the Yanks’ limp offensive support was another stark reminder of a problematic Aaron Judge-less lineup, stalled since mid-June and stumped for answers.
“A more consistent attack, night in and night out’’ is what manager Aaron Boone seeks, but the Yanks couldn’t score off either Pirate starter – Mitch Keller, Bubba Chandler – over 11.1 innings combined.
That missing 1-2 connection
So, it was a huge break when Chandler was lifted after 6.1 innings for lefty reliever Brandon Eisert, who surrendered a one-out walk to Cody Bellinger and back-to-back, two-out RBI hits by Jasson Dominguez (double) and Anthony Volpe.
They don’t win the nightcap without Angel Chivilli or Paul Blackburn, providing more solid relief and suggesting bigger roles in a pennant run.
But the sight of Cole and Fried, pitching back-to-back, was Wednesday’s keepsake.
“Something I’ve been looking forward to for a while now,’’ said Fried.
“I missed him all year and we played keep away, I guess, so far this year,’’ said Cole, who returned from a 14-month Tommy John surgery rehab on May 22.
A week earlier, Fried landed on the injury list due to a left elbow bone bruise.
“It’s nice that it’s finally come to fruition. It took a bit too long for both of our tastes,’’ said Cole, eager to team with Fried since the Yanks signed him to an eight-year free agent contract in December 2024.
“We were so excited when we signed him,’’ said Cole. “He’s just a magnificent pitcher and he’s a great compliment to the other starters in our rotation.
“Definitely looking forward to the next few months.’’
Max Fried was ready to go
Fried expected to start his second minor league rehab game Wednesday, but Tuesday’s rainout forced a split-admission doubleheader and things began to change.
In fact, Fried wandered into Boone’s strategy meeting Tuesday, almost jokingly offering his services to start at Yankee Stadium instead – and finding out they were seriously considering it.
“If you want me to pitch, I’m ready,’’ said Fried, who walked one and struck out seven.
The only hit allowed by Fried was to leadoff batter Nick Gonzales, erased by left fielder Cody Bellinger while attempting to stretch a single into a double.
That first inning play “allowed me to settle in,’’ said Fried, who also got some top-notch defense from third baseman Ryan McMahon.
Efficient with his wide pitch mix and showing better velocity, Fried stretched his 60-pitch limit (he threw 57) across five innings with good command.
“Frankly, it’s as good as he’s looked all year,’’ Boone said of Fried, who had a 2.91 ERA through his first 10 starts before a troublesome game at Baltimore, and the bone bruise diagnosis thereafter.
Fried said he worked on improving his mechanics during his two-month rehab, and there was “definitely a lot of adrenaline’’ going Wednesday.
Meanwhile, veteran lefty Carlos Rodon (elbow inflammation) resumed throwing a bullpen session Tuesday and Clarke Schmidt (elbow rehab) threw live Wednesday for the second time since his second career Tommy John surgery.
It’s still a guess as to when Judge (fractured rib) and/or Giancarlo Stanton (calf strain) return to the lineup, and there are 12 more shopping days left until MLB’s trade deadline.
But there’s $542 million worth of pitching back in the Yanks rotation and performing.
Rotation alteration
Boone used starter Will Warren for 16 pitches in the ninth inning, which altered the weekend rotation plans a bit.
Originally due to start Friday's series opener at Philadelphia, Warren will now pitch Sunday's finale, with Cam Schlittler (Friday) and Ryan Weathers (Saturday) starting on regular rest.
Warren got two outs in the ninth, but also put two runners on base, and Boone used Tim Hill to retire Ryan O'Hearn for the final out, on a play that survived a replay challenge at first base.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: October dreaming, with Gerrit Cole, Max Fried paired in Yankees' rotation
