The New York Yankees faced a tense moment Wednesday when ace left-hander Max Fried exited their game against the Baltimore Orioles after just three innings and 61 pitches. The early departure, initially a cause for concern, was later attributed to left elbow posterior soreness.

But here's the good news: Fried himself is staying calm about it. Speaking after the game, the veteran pitcher shared a reassuring update that should ease some worries among Yankees fans. "I'm not too worried about a super long-term thing," Fried said. "If I can, I would love to be able to make my next start, but we'll see."

While he didn't get into specifics, that optimism is a welcome sign. Even if Fried misses his next outing or lands on the injured list as a precaution, the key takeaway is that this doesn't appear to be a season-altering issue. If the Yankees can get their lefty ace back for the stretch run and into the playoffs, that's a best-case scenario.

According to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, Fried is scheduled for imaging on Thursday to assess the elbow soreness. Until then, the team and its fans will be holding their breath—but Fried's own words suggest this might be more of a bump in the road than a roadblock.

For a team with championship aspirations, keeping Fried healthy is a top priority. And if his confidence is any indicator, the Yankees might just have dodged a bullet.