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The New York Yankees were handed some tough injury news as star left-handed pitcher Max Fried was placed on the injured list.
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Fried was placed on the 15-day IL with a left elbow bone bruise. It’s the same injury that sidelined him for two months earlier this year, and if it’s a similar timeframe, his season could be over.
If Fried is indeed lost for the season, the Yankees’ playoff rotation is dealt a tough blow. The team was expected to use Cam Schlittler, Gerrit Cole, and Fried, with Carlos Rodon likely as their fourth.
To make matters worse, the trade deadline has passed, so the Yankees have to look internally to replace Fried. And, luckily, they have one in Ryan Weathers, who has pitched well this season.
Weathers is someone the Yankees thought about shifting to the bullpen, but he needs to stay in the rotation and be Fried’s replacement.
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Like Fried, Weathers is a left-handed pitcher, so he has that going for him as an obvious replacement. He’s also gotten into a nice groove and has pitched well, which should give the Yankees confidence to turn to him in the playoffs if Fried is out.
This season, Weathers is 5-7 with a 3.56 ERA in 24 starts, and 2-0 with a 1.94 ERA in his last 7 starts. That should give the Yankees plenty of confidence to put Weathers into a playoff rotation and replace Fried if he can’t return this season.
Weathers would also likely be the Yankees’ fourth starter, behind Schlittler, Cole, and Rodon, so there wouldn’t be many expectations on him.
Ryan Weathers Change Led to Success
The Yankees acquired Weathers from the Miami Marlins this offseason, and to begin the season, he struggled.
However, over the last couple of months, Weathers has been much better, and there is a key reason why. On July 10, with his ERA at 4.15, Weathers made a key change to use his four-seam fastball less.
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According to MLB.com. Weathers threw just seven four-seam fastballs among 91 total pitches (7.7% usage) in his July 10 start against the Nationals.
Although the four-seam has been a go-to pitch for Weathers, he felt like he needed to trust Austin Wells and use other pitches more.
“I think it’s just trusting the game plan, trusting [Austin] Wells behind the plate,” Weathers said. “I feel like we’re starting to work real well as a battery together. I just want to give the team a chance to win; that’s my job.”
Meanwhile, Yankees manager Aaron Boone also believes Weathers has settled into New York, which has led to the success.
“Just feel like he’s handled the season really well. New environment coming to New York. Feel like he’s gotten better as the season’s gone along,” Boone said. “Feel like in a lot of ways he’s at his very best right now, throwing the ball.
“Really has a good understanding of his arsenal, doing a good job. His secondary has really been excellent now for a while. The changeup, slider, to go along with both fastballs. But I feel like he’s had a really good plan here these last several times out and throwing the ball really well.”
Ultimately, Weathers’ recent success comes at a critical time, given Fried’s injury.
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This story was originally published August 18, 2026 at 9:27 AM.