Yankees news: Fried to IL, but worst-case scenario avoided

Key Points:

• The New York Yankees placed ace pitcher Max Fried on the 15-day injured list due to a bone bruise in his left elbow, delaying the anticipated start of the Gerrit Cole/Fried rotation tandem; early signs suggest no ligament damage, but Fried will not throw for several weeks.
• Elmer Rodríguez is expected to fill Fried’s spot in the rotation temporarily, with a reliever likely to occupy Fried’s roster spot until his return.
• Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is currently on rehab with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and will make his sixth rehab start soon; the team plans for at least two more rehab starts before his return to the major league roster.
• The implementation of ABS challenges this MLB season has altered gameplay, leading to batters swinging less and walking more, possibly due to a slightly smaller strike zone at the edges compared to traditional umpire calls.
• The ongoing discussion around Juan Soto’s signing with the Mets continues to influence the Subway Series narrative, with mixed opinions within the Yankees’ front office regarding Soto’s offensive impact and subsequent roster moves such as acquiring Fried and Cody Bellinger.