Yankees fans held their breath on Wednesday as ace Max Fried exited his start against the Baltimore Orioles after just three innings, sending a ripple of concern through the Bronx. The team later announced the left-hander is dealing with "left elbow posterior soreness," a troubling development for a rotation already navigating early-season adversity.

Fried's sudden departure comes at a delicate time for New York. With Gerrit Cole already working his way back from an injury to begin the season, the last thing the Yankees needed was another extended absence from the mound. The southpaw threw 61 pitches before calling it a day, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out two. The Yankees had yet to score during his outing.

Here's the latest on Fried's condition and what it means for the Bombers' rotation moving forward.

Imaging scheduled for Thursday

According to Jack Curry, Fried will undergo imaging on Thursday to determine the severity of the elbow issue. He'll also be examined by Dr. Chris Ahmad, the team's head physician. The Yankees are taking a cautious approach, and all eyes will be on those results to gauge whether this is a short-term scare or a longer-term setback.

What happened on the mound?

Fried's start against Baltimore looked routine early on, but something clearly wasn't right. After three innings, the broadcast reported an apparent injury, and the Yankees quickly confirmed the elbow soreness diagnosis. While the team hasn't provided a timeline, any elbow-related issue for a pitcher—especially an ace—is cause for concern.

Before Wednesday's game, the Yankees sat at 27-16, holding second place in the AL East and boasting the second-best record in the American League. That strong start makes Fried's health all the more critical as New York looks to stay in the hunt for October.

For now, the baseball world waits. Fried's next steps will be determined after Thursday's imaging, and Yankees fans can only hope the news brings more relief than worry.