Max Fried will make his second start for the New York Yankees against the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday afternoon when he is looking for a better excursion than he had in his team and season debut.
The Friday game will be a home opener for Pirates, who went a combined 2-5 in a season-open road trip that contained series against Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays.
Although the game Fried began to be historic for Yankees, who hit a franchise record nine home purchases in a 20-9 victory over Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday, he sometimes fought and lasted only 4/3 rounds. Fried (0-0, 3.86 era) allowed six runs, although only two were earned due to five errors committed by Yankees.
“I was in and out of the rhythm,” Fried said. “When your teammates support you and give you 16 runs in the first four rounds, you just have to be able to get as many outs as you can.”
Fried is 3-1 with a 4.28 era in seven career starts against the pirates and is 1-1 with a 6.86 era in four starts in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates will leave the ball to Mitch Keller (1-0, 1.50 era), who took up the victory in his season debut against Marlins on March 28. Keller was consistent during the first start of his seventh season with Pittsburgh, and gave up just one run on five hits and a walk and knocked out four over six rounds.
Keller has met Yankees only once in his career. He lost that excursion on July 6, 2022 in Pittsburgh when he allowed four runs on 10 hits and knocked out seven in six rounds.
The 28-year-old right hand faces a major challenge when he takes Haugen on Friday and tries to slow down the hottest set in baseball.
Aaron Judge continues to be a huge part of that increase with five home races and 15 RBI in his first six matches. Judge hit their latest long ball in Yankees 9-7 victory over Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, a victory that followed back-to-back New York losses to open the three-game series.
Judge became the second player in Major League story, along with Babe Ruth in 1932, to meet five or more homers and a total of 15 or more RBI through their first six matches since RBIS became a state in 1920. Judge also became the third fastest Yankee to collect his 500th extra-base hit and did so in their 999999999999999999999999999999999999999usj out.
Things have not gone as planned for the pirates, as manager Derek Shelton said he expected to be ready to make a playoffs. Pittsburgh snapped a four-game skid with a 4-2 victory against Rays on Wednesday, but the team has only made 19 runs in seven matches despite the sting 19 bases. Oneil Cruz leads majors with sex steals, and Isaiah Kiner-Falepha has four.
Pirates Bullpen has also fought, which was clear in the opening series against Marlins, during which they endured three walk-off losses.
“It feels like we’ve been in Florida for a long time – and I live here,” Shelton said after his team dropped two of three to the rays. “I think it will be nice to come home to Pittsburgh, and I think we look forward to meeting our fans.”
The Pirates added the excursor Alexander Canario to his active list on Thursday, chose Infielder/Outfielder Ji Hwan Bae to Triple-A Indianapolis and traded Catcher Jason delay to Atlanta Braves for cash considerations.
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