Max Fried, Yankees take aim at surging Braves

New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried is rounding into form following a two-month layoff due to an elbow injury, but he has been backed by a lineup struggling to consistently generate offense.

On Friday night, the host Yankees hope their offense can do just enough under Fried to prevent the Atlanta Braves from extending their season-high winning streak to nine games.

Fried (4-3, 3.12 ERA) has three no-decisions and a 2.70 ERA in three starts since returning last month, and his pitch count gradually has risen heading into his first career start against the Braves. He threw 57 and 66 pitches, respectively, in his first two outings before increasing to 78 when he allowed one run on two hits over 5 1/3 innings in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the host Chicago Cubs.

"There are going to be times where guys are throwing really well and maybe the bats aren't putting up as many runs as we need," Fried said. "Then there are going to be times where we're going to score five, six, seven, eight, nine runs and we're giving up some, too. It's about being a good baseball team and picking each other up."

Since his return, Fried has pitched in two games in which the Yankees were held to two runs or less, and they are coming off a 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. New York was held to four hits, walked eight times and went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

"I liked the opportunities tonight," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "We had a lot of chances; it felt like we had baserunners every inning, but we've got to be able to deliver. We haven't done that enough."

Wednesday marked the 10th time since Aaron Judge was lost to a fractured right rib that the Yankees were held to four hits or less.

Ben Rice went 0-for-5 on Wednesday, is hitless in his past 14 at-bats and is batting .171 since the All-Star break. Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered Tuesday in the Yankees' 2-0 win over the Cardinals but has only one hit in past 17 at-bats.

The Braves, who last won nine games in a row from June 24 to July 3 in 2023, cruised to an 11-3 home victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday. During this steak, Atlanta has outscored opponents 43-17 following a slump in which it lost 24 of 41 games.

"So proud of this group," Braves manager Walt Weiss said. "Playing like we have, responding like we have. Getting back to our high-water mark in terms of .500, we were a long ways away after June, but here we are."

Matt Olson hit his 32nd homer Thursday, marking the fourth time he has gone deep during the winning streak. Ronald Acuna Jr. homered twice and drove in three runs on Thursday and is 8-for-39 since returning from a second hamstring injury on July 27.

Atlanta starting pitchers own a 2.17 ERA in the past 15 games.

The Braves will hand the ball to newcomer Tyler Mahle (3-9, 5.13 ERA) for his team debut after he was acquired from San Francisco in a trade on Sunday.

Mahle went 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA in his final seven starts for the Giants, though he allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings in his team's 6-5 loss at San Diego on Saturday.

The right-hander is 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA in two career starts against the Yankees.

--Field Level Media