Max Fried will start for the New York Yankees on opening day of the 2026 MLB season against the San Francisco Giants. The announcement came after Fried's strong spring training performance against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This marks his fifth career opening day start.
In Tampa, Florida, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Max Fried will be the team's starting pitcher for the March 25, 2026, season opener against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.
The decision follows the Yankees' 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a Grapefruit League game on Monday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Fried delivered a sharp performance, throwing 67 pitches over four-plus innings, allowing two hits and one solo home run to Endy Rodríguez while striking out six batters without issuing a walk.
Boone praised Fried's preparation and execution. "He knows how to work and he knows how to prepare, and that’s all year round," Boone said. He added, "That was fun to watch. It was one of those nights where he had it all working and got into a really good rhythm. His cutter was really good early. I thought he was really sharp."
Fried, who signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees before the 2025 season, expressed satisfaction with his progress. This outing marked his second start of the spring, improving from an earlier exhibition against Team Panama where he felt "definitely rusty" and "out of sync." "As far as last time to this time, way better, more consistent," Fried said. "I was able to execute what I wanted to do, and being able to focus a little more on my game plan, my process. I felt like I was able to do that well tonight."
In 2025, Fried's first season with the Yankees, he posted a 19-5 record with a 2.86 ERA over 32 starts, 195 1/3 innings pitched, and 189 strikeouts, earning American League All-Star honors. Last year, he filled the ace role but missed the opening day start due to the timing of Gerrit Cole's injury, with Carlos Rodón taking the mound instead. Fried debuted for the Yankees in the second game.
This will be Fried's fifth career opening day assignment, following starts for the Atlanta Braves in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. He is set to lead a rotation that includes Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, and Luis Gil, with Cole and Rodón expected to return during the first half of the season.
Fried commented on the team's pitching depth: "We’ve got a lot of really good, talented arms. Guys are throwing the ball well and feeling good. This time of year, that’s all you can ask for." Yankees single-game tickets for 2026 are now on sale.
