The New York Yankees entered Sunday night with urgency. After being crushed in Game 1, this was supposed to be their chance to reset behind Max Fried—the lefty they signed to give them a true October ace. Instead, what unfolded at Rogers Centre looked like a repeat nightmare.
Through six innings, the Blue Jays lead 13–2 and are pounding their way toward a commanding 2–0 series advantage. Fried’s start was short, brutal, and emblematic of everything that has gone wrong for the Yankees so far in this ALDS.
Ace’s Short Start Stuns Yankees
Fried’s outing began quietly enough, but by the second inning, things started unraveling. Daulton Varsho ripped a double to deep right field, then reached third on an Aaron Judge misplay. Moments later, Ernie Clement jumped on a hanging curveball and blasted it over the wall in left, giving the Blue Jays a 2–0 lead and energizing a sold-out Rogers Centre crowd.
The left-hander’s command issues surfaced again in the third. Three more runs crossed the plate before Fried could record an out.
When the fourth inning arrived, the Yankees were already down 5–0, and Boone had relievers stirring. After his bad performace continued, the manager finally walked to the mound and took the ball from his struggling ace. Fried left trailing and with two runners aboard.
Reliever Will Warren entered and immediately made things worse. After loading the bases with a walk, he grooved a fastball to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who unloaded on it for a grand slam to left. The crowd erupted as Toronto went up 9–0, and the Yankees looked completely stunned.
By the time the inning ended, the Blue Jays had effectively buried New York. Toronto continued to tack on runs in the fifth and sixth innings, extending the lead to double digits and making Rogers Centre feel like a postseason party.
For the second straight night, a Yankees starter failed to deliver. Luis Gil lasted only 2.2 innings in Game 1. Fried, one out better, followed the same path—and the Blue Jays took full advantage.
Command Falters Despite Electric Stuff
Statcast data showed that Fried’s stuff was live—but it didn’t move the way it needed to. His sinker averaged 96.1 mph and touched 99.2, his cutter averaged 95.2, and his four-seamer reached 97.6. But that velocity didn’t fool anyone. Toronto’s hitters produced an average exit velocity of 89.8 mph, with the hardest contact coming at 106.7 mph.
Fried struggled to locate, throwing fewer than half his pitches for strikes. His breaking stuff failed him as well: his signature curveball didn’t generate a single whiff, and his sweeper lost nearly 30 rpm in spin compared to his season average. The result was a series of hanging pitches that flattened out over the plate, perfect for Toronto’s lineup to tee off on.
The Blue Jays have now scored more than 22 runs across two games while holding the Yankees to just three. Rookie starter Trey Yesavage, making only his 3rd career appearance, held New York hitless through the first five innings and struck out 11.
The series now heads to Yankee Stadium, but the atmosphere around the team feels grim. Fried’s disastrous outing left the New York staring at elimination if they can’t win Game 3 on Tuesday. Carlos Rodón is lined up to start, and the Yankees will need him to pitch like a stopper—not another name on a growing list of postseason letdowns.
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the Yankees’ bullpen will be well-rested for the must-win contest. Boone pulled his key relievers early to save arms for the trip home, while Toronto continued to pile on runs and confidence.
New York’s struggles in this series aren’t just about bad luck—they’re about execution. Toronto have out-hit, out-pitched, and out-prepared the Yankees in every inning so far. Unless something changes fast, this ALDS could be over before it ever feels competitive.
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