Fried over Rodon? Boone says it was 'a really close decision'
Yankees pitchers Carlos Rodon, left, and Max Fried walk to dugout as the Yankees take on the Tampa Bay Rays in the Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on Oct. 3, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Credit: Newsday/William Perlman
For all of Max Fried’s playoff experience, the Yankees lefthander will be the starting pitcher with his team facing elimination for the first time when he takes the mound Wednesday against the Rays in Game 3 at the Stadium.
But he clearly seems to have the mindset for it.
“If we don't win, we go home,” Fried said during an Zoom interview on Tuesday. “This is where you leave everything out on the field. There's nothing else to save anything for.
“I understand that the leash is probably going to be pretty small and we have to do whatever we can to win.”
Manager Aaron Boone and his staff had a choice to make between lefthanders Fried and Carlos Rodon for this start. Boone called it “a really close decision.”
When the Yankees played a Sept. 22 doubleheader against Tampa Bay at the Stadium and the Rays needed a single victory to clinch the AL East title, Rodon and Fried were the starters. Rodon pitched eight scoreless innings — his best start of the season — as the Yankees won the first game. Fried allowed four runs in 6 2/3 innings as the Rays won the second game.
“Two great options there,” Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake said when asked about the decision. “I think just the way it lined up, we wanted to get Max involved in Game 3 and go from there. I wouldn't say there was too much debate about it other than Max has been one of our guys and we want to ride with him here.”
After Fried acknowledged that Boone could use a quick hook on him, he was asked about whether that will change his approach in facing Tampa Bay.
Fried said: “There is no feeling the game out. You just have to be on the attack and you know that they're. . . on the attack as well. So you just kind of have to meet it.”
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
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