The New York Yankees couldn’t ask for a better script heading into their Wild Card showdown with the Boston Red Sox. Game 1 in the Bronx belongs to their $218 million ace, Max Fried, who will take the mound at Yankee Stadium Tuesday night with everything on the line. After a brilliant September that earned him American League Pitcher of the Month honors , Fried now steps into October carrying both the weight of expectations and the trust of an entire fan base.

Fried’s September wasn’t just good—it was dominant. The left-hander went 5-0 across five starts, delivering a sparkling 1.89 ERA in games that mattered most. He didn’t simply collect wins; he controlled games. Over 33.1 innings, Fried surrendered just seven earned runs and only one home run, while striking out 35 hitters. His curveb

See Full Page