In early March, the Yankees lost their ace, creating questions about the top of their starting rotation.

Gerrit Cole wasn’t going to pitch at all this season, leaving a heavy burden to newcomer Max Fried.

He didn’t blink.

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Outside of a shaky stretch in July and early August, the Yankees couldn’t have expected anything else out of their $218 million left-hander.

Wednesday night in the final regular-season start of his first season in pinstripes, he continued to excel. Fried picked up his major league-leading 19th victory while lowering his ERA to 2.86 in the Yankees’ 8-1 rout of the White Sox

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