Yankees' 3-Time All-Star Aims to Bounce Back After Playoff Struggles

Max Fried looks to put his disappointing postseason outing against the Blue Jays behind him and use it as motivation for next season.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried, a 3-time All-Star, is hoping to rebound after a poor playoff performance against the Toronto Blue Jays last season. Fried gave up 8 hits and 7 earned runs in just 3 innings against the Blue Jays, ending his season on a "low note." Now Fried is aiming to use that disappointment as motivation going into the next season, as the Yankees look to make another playoff run.

Why it matters

Fried's struggles in the playoffs were a key factor in the Yankees' early exit, as they were eliminated by their division rival Blue Jays. The Yankees are hoping Fried can bounce back and provide a boost to their rotation, especially with ace Gerrit Cole expected to return early next season.

The details

In his first season with the Yankees, Fried had 19 wins, the most of any starter in Major League Baseball. However, his postseason ERA stands at 5.31 over his 8-year career. The Yankees will be counting on Fried to improve his playoff performance if they want to end their World Series drought.

  • Fried gave up 8 hits and 7 earned runs in just 3 innings against the Blue Jays in the 2025 American League Division Series.
  • Gerrit Cole is expected to return to the Yankees' rotation early in the 2026 season.

The players

Max Fried

A 3-time MLB All-Star pitcher who joined the New York Yankees in 2025 after spending the first 7 seasons of his career with the Atlanta Braves.

Gerrit Cole

The Yankees' ace pitcher who is expected to return early in the 2026 season after missing time due to injury.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Yankees' division rival who eliminated them from the 2025 playoffs.

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What they’re saying

“You never want to end your season on a low note. The last thing you want is to let it affect you, but at the same time, you can use games like (that playoff start against the Blue Jays) as a way to motivate you. Take the shortcoming and use them as a way to constantly strive to make you better.”

— Max Fried (NJ.com)

What’s next

The Yankees will be closely monitoring Fried's performance in Spring Training as he looks to put his playoff struggles behind him and regain his dominant regular season form.

The takeaway

Fried's ability to bounce back from his disappointing playoff outing will be crucial for the Yankees as they aim to end their World Series drought. If he can use that experience as motivation to improve his postseason performance, it could provide a major boost to the team's championship aspirations.