Daily Report – 9/19/25
Yankees
The sensational Max Fried was stupendous in Baltimore last night as the Yankees cruised through nine shutout innings for a 7-0 win. It didn’t matter that they got into Baltimore at 3 AM, because their ace was wide awake. With just 87 pitches, Fried matched a career-high 13 strikeouts as he allowed just three hits and one walk across seven innings. Fried also earned his career-best 18th win of the season, which leads the majors. The Yankees couldn’t have asked for more from their ace as the playoffs creep closer.
Fried threw just 47 pitches across his first four innings, and he had only secured six strikeouts at that point. He managed to get the next seven in just three innings. There were eight starts in the middle of the season during which Fried was managing a blister, and he pitched to a 6.80 ERA. But in his last six starts, Fried has posted a 1.60 ERA.
“I think anytime you go through a rough patch, if you learn from it and you’re able to make an adjustment, there’s a bright side to it,” said Fried, whose 188 1/3 innings pitched and 182 strikeouts this season are both career highs. “Obviously, I wish I didn’t go through it. […] Wish I could have learned the lesson a little differently, but it’s always about making an adjustment.”
Fried’s best inning was the fourth, in which he only needed six pitches to get three outs. He was facing the heart of Baltimore’s lineup, too. “I’m feeling really good physically,” Fried said. “I feel like I did toward the beginning of the year; just changing speeds, trying to get deep into games, and trying to win games. It was really big from the offense, coming out early and scoring some runs.”
Paul Goldschmidt went 2-for-5 last night, and after the game, he offered plenty of praise for Fried. “You don’t know what you’re going to get [from him]. He’s got so many pitches, and he’s a smart pitcher out there. He mixes it up, doesn’t fall into patterns, and just executes. That’s what he was doing tonight.”
The Yankees got on the board early with two runs in the first inning as Amed Rosario drilled a high changeup into the left-field corner for a two-run double. Rosario has been a big factor in the Yankees’ success since they acquired him a few days before the trade deadline. He holds a .859 OPS against lefties this season and is 10-for-25 in 13 games with the Yankees. He hit a home run off Garrett Crochet on Sunday, which, along with his defensive versatility, has earned him a spot in the Yankees’ starting lineup when they face a left-handed starter.
“I prepare the same way I used to when I played every day,” Rosario said through an interpreter. “It’s been something over the years where I’ve gotten experience being in this position and have been able to come through.”
The Orioles started Cade Povich yesterday, a young lefty who has admired Max Fried for years. So much so that his mannerisms and delivery on the mound look just like Fried’s. Povich is neither as experienced nor as talented as Fried, but perhaps the Yankees recognized their similarities and used their familiarity with Fried to score off Povich.
The Yankees added to their lead in the fifth inning, when Anthony Volpe hit a ball to mid-center field and hustled his way to second base, turning a routine single into a double. Almost immediately, he sprinted and stole third base, and José Caballero walked to put runners at the corners. Austin Wells then drove Volpe home with a single to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead.
In the seventh inning, Paul Goldschmidt, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton each drove in runs. Stanton plated two runs with a 106.5-mph double that plowed its way down the left-field line, putting the Yankees ahead 7-0.
With the win, along with losses by Toronto and Boston, the Yankees gained a game in the division standings, moving within three of Toronto for the American League East lead. They also lead Boston by three games for the final Wild Card spot. Cleveland has won seven straight games, and they are 1.5 games away from catching Boston for that coveted final Wild Card spot and 3.5 games behind Detroit for the AL Central division lead. Cleveland has really tightened the American League standings, and they’ve affected the Yankees’ magic number, which is now 6.
Additionally, the Yankees now have sole possession of the second-best record in the American League, and they have a two-game lead over Houston and Seattle, who play each other in a three-game series beginning tonight.
Giants
The Giants’ home opener will air on Sunday Night Football (SNF) at 8:20 PM (7:20 PM CDT). The New York Giants (0-2) will host the Kansas City Chiefs, who are 0-2 for the first time since 2014. Patrick Mahomes is 0-2 to start a season for the first time in his career, and the Chiefs will do whatever it takes to get their first win of the season.
The Giants will have their hands full with the weapons Kansas City brings. It’s worth noting that the Chiefs lost to San Diego and Philadelphia this season, two of the best defensive teams in the National Football League. The same cannot be said for the New York Giants, who coughed up several leads last week in Dallas, leading to a 40-37 overtime loss.
The Chiefs have one of the best secondaries in the NFL, which will make it difficult for Russell Wilson to throw moon balls. In comparison, Pro Football Focus ranks the Cowboys’ secondary as 31st out of 32 teams.
Tonight, at 7:05 PM (6:05 PM CDT), RHP Will Warren (8-7, 4.44 ERA) will pitch for the Yankees (YES, Gotham Sports). He will try to wash away a tough start in Boston as he starts alongside LHP Trevor Rogers (8-2, 1.43 ERA). Rogers has been one of the best pitchers in the American League over the last few months, and the Yankees must be prepared for his firepower.
Here is tonight’s starting lineup for the New York Yankees:
1B Paul Goldschmidt (R)
RF Aaron Judge (C) (R)
CF Cody Bellinger (L)
DH Giancarlo Stanton (R)
3B Amed Rosario (R)
LF Austin Slater (R)
2B Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L)
SS Anthony Volpe (R)
C Austin Wells (L)
SP: RHP Will Warren (8-7, 4.44 ERA)
Tomorrow, at 7:05 PM (6:05 PM CDT), LHP Carlos Rodón (16-9, 3.11) will toe the slab against a tough customer in RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (10-8, 4.39 ERA) (YES, Gotham Sports).
Then, on Sunday at 1:35 PM (12:35 PM CDT), RHP Cam Schlittler (3-3, 3.41 ERA) will try to bounce back against RHP Kyle Bradish (1-1, 2.45 ERA) (YES, Gotham Sports).
Schedule
Tonight 9/19:
7:05 PM (6:05 PM CDT): NYY at BAL; YES; SP: RHP Will Warren (8-7, 4.44 ERA); YES, Gotham Sports
9:00 PM (8:00 PM CDT): 2025 WNBA Playoffs, Round 1, Game 3 – NYL (1-1) at PHX (1-1); ESPN2
Saturday 9/30:
7:05 PM (6:05 PM CDT): NYY at BAL; YES: SP: LHP Carlos Rodón (16-9, 3.11 ERA); YES, Gotham Sports
Sunday 9/21:
1:00 PM (12:00 PM CDT): 2025 NHL Preseason – NYR at NJ; MSG
1:00 PM (12:00 PM CDT): NFL on FOX, Week 3 – New York Jets (0-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0); FOX
1:35 PM (12:35 PM CDT): NYY at BAL; YES; SP: RHP Cam Schlittler (3-3, 3.41 ERA); YES, Gotham Sports
8:20 PM (7:20 PM CDT): Sunday Night Football (SNF), Week 3 – New York Giants (0-2) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2); NBC, Peacock
7:00 PM (6:00 PM CDT): Football Night in America (FNIA); NBC
8:00 PM (7:00 PM CDT): Hyundai Sunday Night Pregame; NBC, Peacock
8:10 PM (7:10 PM CDT): GEICO Sunday Night Anthem; NBC, Peacock
