CINCINNATI — Max Fried will not let himself look that far ahead.
But the All-Star Game is now just a few weeks away, happening in the city where he spent the first eight years of his big league career.
The Yankees left-hander became the first pitcher to reach 10 wins on Wednesday night while lowering his ERA to 1.92.
And Aaron Boone is managing the American League team, meaning he gets to pick the starting pitcher.
And, well …
“I’ve got a handful of starts to go before the All-Star break,” Fried said, refusing to bite on the potential of starting that game in Atlanta. “Right now at this time, I’m not really looking that far ahead. A lot can happen between now and then. I’m really just focused on my next one in five or six days, being able to take the ball and try to compete and win another game. I’ll deal with it when it gets there.”
Boone, who previously indicated Fried’s schedule might not line up well to pitch in the All-Star Game, left the door open for it to happen after Wednesday’s seven-inning gem in a 7-1 win over the Reds.
“That’s down the road, we’ll see,” Boone said with a grin. “Making a case though.”
At this point, Fried’s biggest competition for the job would be Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who is 9-2 with a 2.29 ERA, or Astros ace Hunter Brown, who is 8-3 with a 1.88 ERA.
For now, Fried played the role of stopper yet again, improving to 8-1 in 10 starts after a Yankees loss this season.
He allowed just one unearned run while scattering four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
A night after the Yankees bullpen was stretched in an 11-inning loss, he protected it heading into a well-deserved off day.
“I thought I was able to change speeds pretty well,” Fried said. “Early on I was able to keep the pitch count down a little bit. Drew some deep counts in those middle innings and was really fighting myself a little bit, but credit to the defense and especially the offense of getting some runs on the board and getting some breathing room and being able to have a really good complete game today.”
In the process, Fried became the third Yankees pitcher since 1962 to be the first in the majors to each 10 wins in a season, joining CC Sabathia (2011) and Tommy John (1979).
“Ten wins in half a season is not easy to do, in any era, especially now,” Boone said. “It’s just a testament to how good he’s been and how efficient he’s been. Needless to say, he’s been enormous for us, whether it’s coming off a loss or extending a streak. His consistency’s been great.”
