Max Fried’s Dominant Start Propels Braves to Victory and Ignites Early Cy Young Buzz

New York Yankees ace Max Fried has been cleared to start Friday night’s marquee matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, keeping intact both his spotless health record and a historic run that already has Bronx fans whispering “Cy Young.” Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed pre-game that Fried reported “no discomfort at all” during his between-start bullpen, ending speculation that a mild back tightness would scratch the left-hander from the interleague showdown. The Dodgers will counter with right-hander Tony Gonsolin as they navigate a lineup thinned by injuries to Roki Sasaki (shoulder) and Freddie Freeman (ankle) while Shohei Ohtani is limited to DH duties. A streak for the record books • Fried enters his 12th start with a 1.29 ERA and a 7-0 record, the longest season-opening run of two earned runs or fewer by any Yankees starter since Ron Guidry’s legendary 1978 campaign. • Per Sports Illustrated, he is just the second pitcher since 1969 to post an ERA below 1.50 with at least seven wins and zero losses by Memorial Day, joining Hall-of-Famer Pedro Martinez. • Fried’s ground-ball rate (56 %) and MLB-best pickoff move have helped the Yankees compile the American League’s second-lowest team ERA (3.37). Why tonight matters 1. Statement series: New York (35-20) and Los Angeles (34-22) are viewed as World Series favorites; a strong Fried outing on national streaming (Apple TV+) amplifies his awards narrative. 2. Ballpark comfort: The lefty owns a 2.00 ERA with 34 K in 27 career innings at Dodger Stadium, holding Mookie Betts and Freeman to a combined .114 average. 3. Cy Young optics: A duel with a star-studded Dodger lineup on the West Coast offers the type of “signature start” that voters remember in September. Scouting report vs. Dodgers Pitch mix: 94 mph two-seamer, sharp 74 mph curve, mid-80s slider, occasional changeup. Expect early fastballs in on Betts, back-foot sliders to Ohtani, and the curve against right-handed run producers Teoscar Hernández and Will Smith. Game plan: Keep pitch count under 90 to secure at least seven innings, neutralize the running game with his elite pickoff, and leverage Dodger injuries by pounding the strike zone. Yankees lineup boost Aaron Judge returns to right field full-time after last year’s toe woes, while Juan Soto slots in at DH to rest a sore shoulder. The Yankees are averaging 5.3 runs per Fried start; any early cushion could let Boone shorten the bullpen bridge to closer Clay Holmes. Bottom line A healthy Max Fried on the mound against baseball’s glam-squad Dodgers is must-see June baseball. If the southpaw extends his stingy streak and outduels Gonsolin in Chavez Ravine, the conversation shifts from “great start” to “historic season”—and the Yankees’ path to a 28th championship suddenly looks a lot clearer.