Yankees starter Max Fried making early return from IL, will face Pirates in doubleheader Wednesday

Max Fried is making his return to the New York Yankees from injury earlier than planned.

The Yankees announced Tuesday that Fried will start in Game 2 of Wednesday’s scheduled doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Yankees made the revelation shortly after Tuesday’s game against the Pirates was postponed due to weather, forcing the doubleheader. Gerrit Cole will get the start in Game 1 on Wednesday.

Fried has been on the injured list with a bone bruise in his pitching elbow since May 15. Manager Aaron Boone said earlier Tuesday that Fried would throw roughly 60 pitches in a second rehab start Wednesday and return to the rotation sometime during New York’s four-game series at the Chicago White Sox next week.

Instead, Fried will return after just one rehab start. It’s not clear if the weather postponement impacted the change of plans, but the Yankees will have the three-time All-Star back on the mound sooner than anticipated.

Fried was off to a solid start in his second season with the Yankees after making the All-Star team in his first. In 10 starts before his injury, Fried posted a 3.21 ERA and 1.005 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 19 walks in 61 2/3 innings.

With Fried’s return and Cole back from the Tommy John procedure that sidelined him in 2025, the Yankees are hoping for the 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation that they envisioned when they signed Fried to a $218 million contract as a free agent before the 2025 season.

This story will be updated.