Going through the Mets is nothing new for Max Fried.
In eight seasons with the Atlanta Braves, the left-handed Fried threw extra innings (109) towards the Mets than some other opponent, whereas his 23 appearances and 18 begins had been tied for his most towards any workforce.
Fried’s 2.48 ERA versus the Mets was his lowest towards any of the Braves’ Nationwide League East rivals.
However Sunday night time marks his first begin towards the Mets as a member of the Yankees — and his official introduction to the Subway Collection.
Fried watched from the dugout because the Yankees gained Friday night time’s Subway Collection opener, 6-2, after which as they fell, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon.
Each video games within the Bronx had been sellouts — and really rowdy.
“I grew up in Los Angeles, so you get a little bit of that with some Lakers-Clippers stuff, just being in the same city,” Fried stated. “They shared the same stadium for a while. It’s cool. It’s a cool rivalry that everyone’s really looking forward to, and obviously you could see [it in Friday’s opener] with the energy in the stadium.”
Fried, 31, is off to a stellar begin in his first season with the Yankees.
He entered Sunday with a 1.11 ERA, the bottom amongst certified pitchers, by way of 9 begins, whereas his 6-0 report gave him a share of the MLB lead in wins.
When the Yankees signed Fried within the winter to an eight-year, $218 million contract — the largest deal ever for a left-handed pitcher — it marked their first main addition following the departure of slugger Juan Soto.
Soto signed a record-setting 15-year, $765 million take care of the Mets following an unprecedented bidding warfare with the Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Purple Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I was waiting for him to sign, so I was definitely watching him and seeing how that was shaping out,” Fried stated of Soto. “But I haven’t given too much thought of what [would have] happened if something else [did]. I was excited to get the opportunity to come here, and I’ve been really enjoying it so far.”
That was a part of a fluid offseason for each golf equipment. After including Fried, the Yankees additionally signed first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and traded for outfielder Cody Bellinger and reliever Devin Williams.
They confirmed curiosity, too, in right-handed starter Griffin Canning, who finally signed a one-year, $4.25 million take care of the Mets.
Fried has been a godsend for the Yankees, who entered Sunday with an 8-1 report within the video games he began. The Yankees have leaned on him much more after ace Gerrit Cole underwent season-ending elbow surgical procedure throughout spring coaching.
In his lone begin towards the Mets final season, Fried hurled seven no-hit innings at Citi Subject earlier than exiting with 109 pitches. The Mets spoiled that no-hit bid with two outs within the ninth towards Braves nearer Raisel Iglesias.
Going into Sunday’s recreation, Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was 3-for-28 (.107) with a house run in his profession towards Fried, whereas left fielder Brandon Nimmo was 3-for-27 (.111).
First baseman Pete Alonso was 10-for-36 (.278) with two homers and 12 strikeouts.
Soto, who confronted Fried repeatedly as a member of the Washington Nationals, was 9-for-27 (.333) with 5 walks and 9 strikeouts, with a double accounting for his lone extra-base hit.
“He’s obviously got a really good heater,” Alonso stated of Fried. “He can command the ball inside and out of the zone, and I think it’s his control, control of where he wants to put the ball on a consistent basis. He’s obviously got really good stuff. He’s a great arm.”
Fried was a part of the Braves’ tight division battle with the Mets in 2022, in addition to final yr’s playoff push that took each groups right down to the wire.
He gained the World Collection with the Braves in 2021.
Now with the Yankees, Fried is once more embracing the largest stage.
“It’s been really great to get to play with these guys,” Fried stated. “I’ve got really great teammates who want to go out there and win every day. We’re playing some good baseball right now, and it’s been a lot of fun to go out there and compete.”
