Yankees "optimistic'' for a faster Max Fried elbow recovery

Max Fried was already playing catch Tuesday in the Bronx, one hopeful sign that the Yankees’ veteran lefty might return sooner than later.

Placed on the 15-day injured list due to another left elbow bone bruise, Fried’s Monday MRI showed a low level of inflammation, per Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

“In a lot of ways,’’ Fried is “close to being able to make his next start,’’ Boone told reporters, including the YES Network on Tuesday, before the Yanks’ three-game series opener against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

Fried was sidelined earlier this year for 10 weeks due to an elbow bone bruise, returning to the Yanks’ rotation on July 22.

That same timeframe would take Fried’s recovery into the AL Championship Series, but Boone said it’s “not like that’’ previous injury.

“(We’re) trying to be a little bit cautious here…as we head down the stretch,’’ said Boone.

Fried’s latest elbow issue occurred during last Thursday’s five-inning, one-run outing against the Mariners.

“He felt it on a pitch in his last start, and then a little bit after,’’ Boone told reporters at Baltimore.

Still, the Yanks and Fried proceeded as if he’d make his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Orioles, even throwing a normal side session Sunday that “actually went OK,’’ per Boone.

But with Monday’s off day, and the decision to bring Carlos Rodon (elbow inflammation) back from the IL to start Tuesday’s series opener at Camden Yards, the Yanks took the cautious route with Fried.

“(We) just kind of collectively decided it’s probably best to make sure we get this calmed down and hopefully make it a smaller issue,’’ Boone said of Fried’s condition.

As a result of Fried's latest IL stint, Will Warren will remain in rotation; he's due to start Wednesday at Baltimore.

But there’s still no guarantees of a perfect timeline for Fried, considering he’s now dealt with this issue twice in 2026.

“We’ll see how he responds over the next coming days, hoping that he can continue to throw and that it’s a short stint,’’ said Boone, who called Fried’s diagnosis “overall good news’’ considering his previous injury.

“We’re pretty optimistic, based on the imaging and how he’s doing,’’ said Boone, adding that “we’re just being cautious with this and making sure we give ourselves the best chance to have him healthy for the rest of the way.’’

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees "optimistic'' for a faster Max Fried elbow recovery