The New York Yankees are managing Max Fried’s workload cautiously as he continues his return from a bone bruise in his throwing elbow. Fried, who missed over two months of the season, made his first start back on July 22, but manager Aaron Boone indicated that the left-hander would not yet be expected to pitch a full game.

Fried demonstrated effective command in his initial outing, allowing just one hit over five shutout innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates before being removed after 57 pitches. However, his follow-up start against the Chicago White Sox highlighted the need for continued restraint. Fried struggled early, requiring 32 pitches to complete the first inning, and ultimately lasted just three innings while giving up three runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out four but was limited to 66 pitches in total.

Boone noted that Fried’s pitch count increased by only nine between his first two starts, reflecting a deliberate progression in rebuilding the pitcher’s stamina. Given this pace, Fried’s workload for his next appearance, scheduled against the Chicago Cubs, is expected to be slightly higher but still measured, likely around 75 pitches.

Such a pitch count may make it challenging for Fried to complete six innings, particularly considering the Cubs’ strong performance against left-handed pitchers. Chicago ranks second in Major League Baseball with a .788 OPS against southpaws, posting a .265 batting average, a .355 on-base percentage, and a .433 slugging percentage.

Since returning, Fried has totaled exactly 15 and 9 outs in his two starts. To surpass 15.5 outs in his upcoming start, he would need to pitch at least five innings and record an out in the sixth inning. Given both the cautious approach by the Yankees and the Cubs’ ability to extend innings offensively, it appears unlikely Fried will reach that threshold in his next outing.