Max Fried's early-season dominance is almost 60 years in the making for Yankees

After a skittish first three batters of the season, Max Fried has arguably posted the most open-and-shut case of any starter in Major League Baseball. He's attacked the zone. He's ruthlessly deployed his curveballs. He's kept his pitch count reasonable while also soaking up innings. He's been in midseason form from the frigid-most point of the season. And, on Tuesday in Seattle, he reached a pedestal in Yankees history that hasn't been touched in 59 years, since an overlooked Mel Stottlemyre season in 1967.

Fried completed seven shutout frames on just 90 pitches, following his 6 1/3 on Opening Night. Why did Aaron Boone let him start the seventh in the opener? We're confused, too. But it added a nice little flourish to this noteworthy statistical milestone, as Fried surpassed six frames in both starts and allowed no runs in either of them.

He's the first Yankees starter to do that in his first two appearances in 59 years, and joins overlooked dynastic luminaries like Bob Turley, Allie Reynolds, and Bob Shawkey.

Seeing Fried atop a "dominance" list is one thing. Seeing him nestled among the titans from when the Yankees used to zip to the World Series annually is another. These are names that typically don't get mentioned in most modern analysis, and Fried polished them all off on Tuesday with his second straight incredible outing.

Yankees history makes space for Max Fried against Mariners (as he waits to become a co-ace?)

Fried was a worthy ace for the 2025 Yankees, and has played the role ... well, better than anyone else in nearly six decades to start the 2026 season. But the design of this year's roster is such that he shouldn't have to occupy that position alone once June rolls around.

The Yankees know all too well that, while one generational talent is good (Aaron Judge), two is better (Juan Soto), and when a third slugger hits at a level that exceeds the first two (Giancarlo Stanton), a run to the World Series becomes not just possible, but plausible. Could Fried alone carry the Yankees to the place they're looking to reach this season? Certainly. Turley did. Reynolds did. But with Gerrit Cole's rehab proceeding according to plan, he might be expected to share the responsibility rather than carry the burden throughout the summer and into October.

Nothing is assured. You never know what you're going to have until the moment has arrived. Planning is a fool's errand. But the Yankees believe they have a second ace en route in Cole, not to mention a burgeoning Cam Schlittler and a returning Carlos Rodón (who needs better hamstrings, but we can't all be perfect). That makes Fried's remarkable run stand out even more plainly. Imagine what it'll feel like when there are two of them?