In a concerning turn for the Yankees' rotation, left-hander Max Fried was forced to exit Wednesday's game against the Orioles after just three innings due to elbow soreness. The three-time All-Star immediately headed down the tunnel after Baltimore plated two runs in the third inning, leaving the dugout with a sense of unease.

Fried, who signed a blockbuster deal with New York last winter, allowed three runs on five hits before departing. The Yankees had Paul Blackburn warming in the bullpen during the fourth inning as a precaution. This early exit is especially worrying given Fried's recent struggles—he surrendered five runs in six innings during his last start against Milwaukee.

The 32-year-old southpaw is scheduled to be examined Thursday by team physician Chris Ahmad in New York, taking advantage of the Yankees' off day. Fried's history with blister issues on his left finger has already cost him significant time, including four trips to the injured list between 2018-23 while with Atlanta and an extended break around the All-Star break last season.

Despite this setback, Fried has been a reliable arm for the Yankees in 2025, earning an All-Star nod and posting a solid 3.21 ERA across 10 starts. For now, the team and fans will hold their breath as they await results from Thursday's exam, hoping this is just a minor bump in the road for their ace.