Yankees lose 5-2 to the Cubs on July 12, 2025, snapping their streak. The bigger story is an injury to starter Max Fried. Will his blister impact the season?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Well, all good things must come to an end. The Yankees' five-game winning streak was snapped Saturday night in a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs. But as the Bronx faithful filed out of the stadium, the final score felt like a footnote. The real story, and the team's biggest worry, was the early exit of starter Max Fried due to a recurring blister issue that now casts a shadow over the starting rotation.
It's something we've been monitoring, but it flared up again tonight and we didn't want to risk further injury.
The Cubs didn't waste any time, jumping on the Yankees early and never looking back. After Fried's abbreviated three-inning start, the bullpen couldn't completely stem the tide. Chicago's starter, Matthew Boyd, was masterful, silencing the Yankee bats for eight shutout innings. The Bronx Bombers managed just six hits all night, with the offense looking completely neutralized until the very end. The lone bright spot came far too late to change the outcome.
The loss stings, but the health of Max Fried is paramount. The left-hander was forced from the game after just three innings, a victim of the same blister on his pitching hand that has bothered him before. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed the team's caution post-game, noting they pulled him to avoid a more significant setback. Now, the Yankees face uncertainty. Will Fried make his next start? This isn't just a question for next week; it's a question that could impact the team's stability down the stretch.
If you were looking for a reason to cheer, you had to wait until the bottom of the ninth. Aaron Judge, as he so often does, provided the fireworks with a towering two-run home run, his 35th of the season. The blast, which scored Cody Bellinger, broke up the shutout and extended Judge's RBI streak to five games. While it was too little, too late, it's another reminder that even on a quiet night for the offense, the Captain is always a threat to change the game with one swing.
While the big-league club took a loss, the future continues to shine. Down on the farm, the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are chasing their seventh straight win, powered by sluggers like Spencer Jones, whose 22 homers are among the most in the minors. And with the MLB Draft starting tomorrow, the organization is poised to add more talent. Manager Aaron Boone recently raved about top prospect George Lombard Jr., calling him 'that kind of special-makeup kid.' It's a good reminder that even after a tough loss, the talent pipeline is flowing.
One loss, especially after a five-game tear, is no reason to panic. The immediate focus will be on the severity of Fried's blister and who might step up if he misses a start. But as the draft kicks off tomorrow, the Yankees have a chance to pivot from a frustrating night to an exciting glimpse of the future. Let's see how they bounce back in the series finale and who they add to the pinstriped family.
