Even in a loss, Max Fried is proving to be the steadying force the New York Yankees desperately need. While Thursday's outing wasn't his sharpest, his performance this season embodies the reliability the Bronx Bombers' rotation has been missing.

Signed to slot in as a formidable number two behind ace Gerrit Cole, Fried has instead been thrust into the role of staff anchor. With Cole yet to pitch a regular season game since Fried's arrival due to Tommy John surgery, and fellow starter Carlos Rodón also sidelined to begin the year, the left-hander's workload has become invaluable.

Fried currently leads all of Major League Baseball in innings pitched with 33.1 frames. While wins and ERA often grab headlines, this durability is a critical stat for a team navigating significant pitching injuries. It continues a trend of reliability; since 2019, excluding an injury-shortened 2023, Fried has consistently logged at least 165 innings each season.

His ability to grind through starts, even without his best command, saves a bullpen and provides consistency in a volatile stretch. Every championship-caliber staff needs a workhorse who takes the ball and eats innings, and Fried is filling that role perfectly. For a Yankees team waiting for its star pitchers to return, having a proven competitor like Fried holding the fort is exactly the prescription they needed.