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Max Fried to Come Off Injured List to Start Game 2 of Doubleheader on Wednesday
The New York Yankees are saying that left-hander Max Fried (elbow) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start in Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader in the Bronx against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. The original plan was for Fried to make one more minor-league rehab start on Wednesday and throw around 60 pitches before rejoining the team's starting rotation early next week against the Chicago White Sox. Fantasy managers will be glad to get the 32-year-old veteran southpaw back for the first time since he suffered a bone bruise in his left elbow in mid-May, but they'd be wise to keep him on their benches for what will likely be an abbreviated outing on Wednesday against the Bucs. The former seventh overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 2012 won 19 games in his first year in pinstripes in 2025 and was 4-3 with a strong 3.21 ERA (2.71 FIP), 1.00 WHIP, and 50:19 K:BB in 61 2/3 innings over 10 starts before landing on the IL. Fried shouldn't be available on the waiver wire in any fantasy leagues.
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Max Fried Expected to Rejoin the Rotation Next Week
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone told Talkin' Yanks that left-hander Max Fried (elbow) will throw 60 pitches in a minor-league rehab start on Wednesday and is expected to come off the 60-day injured list to rejoin the starting rotation next week against the Chicago White Sox. The 32-year-old southpaw has been on the shelf since mid-May due to a bone bruise in his left elbow, but his return is right around the corner, and he should be rostered in all fantasy baseball leagues as a potential difference-maker for the remainder of the second half of the season. A return against the White Sox next week isn't the ideal first matchup back off the IL, but Fried has been a must-start since joining the Yankees last year. In 10 starts (61 2/3 innings) before his elbow injury, he went 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA (2.71 FIP) and 1.00 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 19 walks for the Yanks. The White Sox rank 12th in baseball with a .732 OPS, but they're also in the top 10 in strikeouts. Fried should be put back in starting fantasy lineups when he's activated next week, barring a setback in his rehab outing on Wednesday.
Source: Talkin' Yanks
Source: Talkin' Yanks
Carlos Rodon Receives Second Round of Injections
New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (elbow) received his second round of shots, including another PRP injection on Friday. The southpaw threw 10 pitches off the mound on Friday and could progress to a full bullpen session this week. Rodon is working his way back from left elbow inflammation that has kept him sidelined since late June. There is currently no official timetable for Rodon's return to the rotation. It'll ultimately depend on his progress, but the hope is that Rodon can return in early August. Fantasy managers should continue to hold the southpaw and hope he can be a contributor in the second half of the season.
Source: Gary Phillips
Source: Gary Phillips
Ryan Weathers Moved to Monday Against the Pirates
New York Yankees left-hander Ryan Weathers' next start is being moved to Monday's series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Weathers was originally scheduled to face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday before the contest was postponed by inclement weather. The Yankees have opted not to use Weathers during their doubleheader in the Bronx on Sunday, so he'll be pushed back to start the new week and will be in line for a two-start week for fantasy managers instead. It will definitely improve the 26-year-old southpaw's matchup in what will be his 19th start of the year. The former seventh overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 2018 has gone 3-7 in his first year with the Yanks with a 4.15 ERA (3.87 FIP) and 1.24 WHIP with a career-high 110 strikeouts and 27 walks in 97 2/3 innings pitched. A career-high 26.9% strikeout rate makes Weathers a sneaky matchup-based streamer. The Pirates rank second in baseball in OPS, but they also have the second-most strikeouts, making Weathers an intriguing starter on Monday.
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Clarke Schmidt Set to Face Hitters for First Time Since Elbow Surgery
New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt (right elbow) is scheduled to face hitters Saturday for the first time in his Tommy John rehab. Schmidt underwent a UCL repair with an internal brace on July 11, 2025, rather than a full reconstruction, and remains on the 60-day injured list. The live session is a meaningful step, but he still needs to build toward a minor-league rehab assignment before activation. Schmidt made 14 starts last season, going 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 73 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings. The Yankees have listed August as a possible return window, though his role remains unsettled. Brian Cashman has said Schmidt could return as either a starter or reliever. Fantasy managers with IL space can keep monitoring him, but a return is not yet close enough to treat as imminent.
Source: Greg Joyce
Source: Greg Joyce
Max Fried to Make a Rehab Start at Triple-A on Friday
New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried (elbow) will make a minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, the RailRiders announced. Fried will be making his first start in a game since being shut down in mid-May with a bone bruise in his left elbow. Because of his lengthy absence, the 32-year-old veteran southpaw is likely to need a couple more rehab starts in the minors before rejoining New York's starting rotation near the end of July or in early August. Fantasy managers in all leagues must continue stashing the former first-rounder until then, as he could be a difference-maker as an ace for the remainder of the season if he can avoid any further injuries. Fried went 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts in 61 2/3 innings in his first 10 starts in 2026 before landing on the injured list. He was an All-Star for the third time in his career in 2025 in his first year in the Bronx, winning a league-high 19 games while posting a 2.86 ERA (3.07 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with a career-high 189 strikeouts and 51 walks in 32 regular-season starts. UPDATE: Manager Aaron Boone said on Friday that Fried will make at least two rehab starts before the team decides on activating him from the IL, according to The Athletic's Chris Kirschner.
Source: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Source: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Can Gerrit Cole Return to Ace Form in the Second Half of 2026?
New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole had the start of his 2026 season delayed by recovery from Tommy John surgery. Since returning in late May, the veteran right-hander has recorded a 3-4 record with a 4.04 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts across 49 innings (nine starts). Cole is averaging 96.7 miles per hour on his fastball and has avoided free passes, allowing just a 5.3% walk rate. However, his strikeout rate has dipped to 22.7%, well below his career mark of 28.5%. Still, the 35-year-old's biggest issues have come from the long ball, as he's allowed 1.47 HR/9. While Cole has had issues with home runs at different points in his Yankee career, he allowed just 0.86 HR/9 in 2023 and 1.04 HR/9 in 2024. Fantasy managers should no longer expect SP1 production from Cole. However, with some slight improvement in his strikeout rate and some regression to the mean in his home run rate, Cole could still be a very valuable pitcher in the second half of the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Time to Stash Elmer Rodriguez Ahead of Looming Return to Yankees?
New York Yankees starting pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez could be a sneaky pitching source for fantasy owners during the second half of the season. Rodriguez has had his audition with the big-league club and went 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP. He struck out 10 in 17 innings pitched over four starts. Rodriguez has spent much of the season dominating at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. At Scranton, the right-hander has posted a 5-3 overall record with a 2.85 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 67 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings. He also has the prospect pedigree as the Yankees' No. 3 overall prospect. Having already tried his hand in the majors, now might be a good time to stash Rodriguez before he is called up again to aid the Yankees. His strikeout numbers are good in the minors, making him a promising candidate to perform well in the major league rotation. With Carlos Rodon set to face a lengthy absence, Rodriguez is in a good position to earn another stint in the Bronx later in the summer.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Carlos Rodon Could Get Back on a Mound Next Week
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that left-hander Carlos Rodon (elbow) has had a few good days of throwing, according to the New York Daily News' Gary Phillips. Rodon wasn't scheduled to throw on Sunday, but he will throw just about every day during the All-Star break, and it could include a bullpen session. The 33-year-old three-time All-Star isn't going to be ready to rejoin New York's starting rotation just out of the break next weekend and will most likely need several bullpen sessions before embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment later this month. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Rodon to be a realistic candidate for a return to New York's starting rotation until August, especially when considering he got a late start to the 2026 season after having surgery on the same elbow last October to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur. Despite durability concerns, Rodon can still help fantasy managers in all leagues in the second half after going 4-2 with a 3.30 ERA (3.44 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with 52 strikeouts and 26 walks in 46 1/3 innings across his nine starts for the Yanks.
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Max Fried Could Make a Rehab Start on Friday
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that left-hander Max Fried's (elbow) live bullpen session on Saturday went well, and his next step is "likely" a minor-league rehab game, which could come as soon as Friday, July 17, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. In his live session with Double-A Somerset this weekend, Fried went three innings and threw 44 pitches. The 32-year-old three-time All-Star will look to build up his pitch count late next week in his first rehab start since going on the 15-day injured list back on May 16 due to a bone bruise in his left elbow. Because of how long he's been away from the Yankees' rotation, fantasy managers should expect Fried to make at least two rehab starts and potentially return before the end of July. The former seventh overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 2012 must remain stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues. Before getting hurt, Fried was 4-3 in his 10 starts (61 2/3 innings) with a 3.21 ERA (2.71 FIP), 1.00 WHIP, and 50:19 K:BB in his second season in the Bronx. If he can stay healthy in the second half, Fried could help carry fantasy pitching staffs.
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Cam Schlittler Won't Pitch in All-Star Game
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that right-hander Cam Schlittler will not pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game, according to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. Schlittler isn't injured, but he doesn't want to push himself on what would be his between-starts throwing day. The 25-year-old has more than backed up his strong showing in his rookie campaign in 2025 with his first All-Star nod in 2026. Schlittler ends the first half of his first full season in the big leagues with a 9-5 record while leading the league in ERA (2.05), WHIP (0.94), and WAR (4.2) in 118 2/3 innings covering a league-high 20 starts. The former seventh-rounder in 2022 out of Northeastern University has quickly developed into a fantasy ace and is currently rostered in 98% of Yahoo leagues. His fantasy managers have to be happy about his decision to skip the All-Star Game as he looks for an equally dominant second half. It could be tough sledding to start the second half, though, with an upcoming matchup scheduled against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Source: The Athletic - Brendan Kuty
Source: The Athletic - Brendan Kuty
Will Warren's Volatility Turning him into a Matchup-Based Streamer?
New York Yankees starting pitcher Will Warren has become tougher to trust right before the All-Star break. The 27-year-old is 7-4 with a 4.15 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 94 strikeouts over 93 1/3 innings, which is still usable in plenty of fantasy leagues. The problem is that the blowups are starting to stack up. Warren was hit hard by the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, allowing six earned runs, seven hits, and three home runs over four innings. There are still enough strikeouts to keep him on rosters, and his 3.98 FIP is better than the ERA. But this is not a profile to chase as a second-half difference-maker. Warren's .319 xwOBA allowed, 39.9% hard-hit rate, and 90.2 mph average exit velocity allowed point more toward volatility than a true breakout. At 64% rostered on Yahoo, he is better treated as a matchup play than a must-start arm.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Carlos Rodon to Play Catch on Thursday
New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon (elbow) will play catch on Thursday for the first time since landing on the 15-day injured list last Friday with inflammation in his left elbow, according to Meredith Marakovits of the YES Network. Rodon will have a shot to return to the Yankees' starting rotation in the second half, but in a best-case scenario, the 33-year-old veteran isn't expected to be back until at least early August. The Yankees aren't going to rush Rodon, who missed the start of the 2026 season after having surgery last October to remove loose bodies and to shave down a bone spur in his left elbow. The three-time All-Star has looked good in his nine starts for the Yankees this year in his fourth season with the team, going 4-2 with a 3.30 ERA (3.46 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with 52 strikeouts and 26 walks in 46 1/3 innings pitched, making him stash-worthy in most fantasy leagues. However, fantasy managers are going to need to be patient.
Source: Yes Network - Meredith Marakovits
Source: Yes Network - Meredith Marakovits
Elmer Rodriguez Strikes Out Six in Latest Start, Back on Stash Radar?
New York Yankees pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez struck out six in his latest start at Triple-A, though he also yielded eight hits (one home run) and a pair of walks across 6 1/3 innings pitched. The Yankees' third-ranked prospect is biding his time at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre until he is needed again in the big leagues. The team has already called him up twice this season, and the results were not great. The right-hander made four starts and pitched to a 4.76 ERA (6.11 xFIP), 1.76 WHIP, and walked more batters (11) than he struck out (10) in 17 innings of work. The 6-foot-4 hurler is slated to pitch for the RailRiders again on Thursday, though the Yankees also do not currently have a starter announced for their Thursday matchup against Tampa Bay, so perhaps Rodriguez could be an option. Nevertheless, fantasy managers desperate for pitching help should monitor the situation as the 22-year-old could be in line for another call-up shortly, even if it doesn't come Thursday, though there is little reason to stash him in most leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Carlos Rodon Expected to be Out Until Mid-August
New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon (elbow) is expected to be out until mid-August with a left-elbow injury, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Rodon doesn't have any structural damage to his UCL, but he's dealing with significant inflammation in his elbow and will be out for at least four to six weeks. It's bad news for the Yankees and Rodon's fantasy managers, obviously, and it's especially concerning after he missed the start of the 2026 season while recovering from surgery last October to remove loose bodies and to shave down a bone spur in the same elbow. The 33-year-old three-time All-Star had his best year in the Bronx in 2025, going 18-9 with a 3.09 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 203:73 K:BB in 195 1/3 innings pitched. Rodon has gone 4-2 this year with a 3.30 ERA (3.46 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with 52 K's and 26 walks in 46 1/3 innings across his nine starts. His strikeout rate sits at 26.8%, which is his highest mark since 2022, his lone season with the San Francisco Giants. Rodon should be held in the majority of fantasy leagues where he's rostered.
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman
