Why Yankees’ Max Fried won't pitch in the All-Star Game

NEW YORK It wouldnt be difficult to make the case that New York Yankees lefty Max Fried should start the All-Star Game on Tuesday.

Maybe he hasnt been the clear-cut best pitcher in the American League.

That title could belong to the Detroit Tigers Tarik Skubal or the Houston Astros Hunter Brown, though Fried does have the most wins (11), and hes top-five in ERA (2.27) and innings (119).

It would produce so many made-for-TV moments to have Fried taking the mound in the first inning at Truist Park in Atlanta, where he was beloved over the first eight seasons of his career before leaving for the Yankees last offseason.

Advertisement Alas, it wont happen.

MLB announced Friday afternoon that Fried wont even pitch and that his teammate, lefty starting pitcher Carlos Rodon, will take his place.

What gives? A lot of machinations, manager Aaron Boone said.

Carlos Rodon has been added to the American League All-Star team He replaces Max Fried on the AL's active roster pic.twitter.com/EnzbYko4BF MLB (@MLB) July 11, 2025 Boone said the biggest reason was that the Yankees need Fried to pitch Saturday against the Chicago Cubs, and that it might feel like too quick a turnaround for him to throw Tuesday.

In All-Star Games, pitchers typically stick to pitching one inning.

But even that might be too much for Fried.

Boone added that the Yankees and Fried have worked through it a lot over the last couple of weeks before making their decision.

Also, Fried will still get his warm welcome in Atlanta.

The Yankees open the second half against the Braves on Friday.

The club hasnt announced their starters for that series, but if they wanted Fried to start in Game 1, skipping the All-Star Game would give him ample rest.

Boone said Frieds impressive workload was not so much the reason he wont pitch Tuesday.

Frieds 19 starts are tied for the most in baseball, and hes just 1 1/3 innings short of the Boston Red Soxs Garrett Crochet, who leads the AL in innings at 120 1/3.

Hes well on his way to surpassing his career-high 185 1/3 innings that he set in the 2022 regular season.

The most total innings (regular season and postseason combined) hes pitched was 193.32 in 2021.

The Yankees cant afford more injuries to their starting rotation.

They lost Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt for the season due to Tommy John surgery.

Luis Gil, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, hasnt pitched yet due to a lat strain suffered in spring training, and he wont be ready until August.

Theyre also waiting for Ryan Yarbrough (oblique strain) to return from the injured list.

General manager Brian Cashman said hell look to trade for a starting pitcher before the July 31 deadline.

Advertisement Hopefully (Frieds) in a position to where I hope he breaks that 185 (innings mark) this year and into the playoffs, Boone said.

But its certainly something well be mindful of and pay attention to.

Not only Max but all of our pitchers and how theyre recovering during the year, the value of getting them an extra day here and there.

Its things we all pay attention to at different levels.

Sometimes when youre taking a young guy and jumping them to an innings place they have never been, youre mindful of it all, but you also treat them all on an individual basis.

(Photo: Justin Casterline / Getty Images).

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