A couple of weeks back the Yankees were on fire like an oiled machine. They were hitting with power at bat, backed by solid starting pitchers and a reliable bullpen to seal the deal when it counted most. But in baseball, momentum doesn’t ask for permission before flipping sides. Now, as boos grow louder in the Bronx and the AL East lead slips further away, all eyes turn to Max Fried, their calmest presence in the storm.

New York has dropped 16 of its last 22 games. Once feared for their depth and discipline, the Yankees have devolved into a team plagued by defensive lapses and missed chances. The offense has cratered with runners in scoring position, and pitching misfires have only added to the damage. In the middle of it all, manager Boone hasn’t sugarcoated a thing, but he’s made one thing clear: this team’s response starts with Fried.

“I don’t think there’s a better guy to be on the mound today,” Boone said bluntly. “Max has been incredible for us every day he goes out there, we’re thrilled, and feel like it’s a game we should go out and win.” That’s no throwaway comment. Boone is sending a message, not just to fans, but to his own dugout.

Fried, acquired with championship expectations, now represents more than just rotation depth. He’s the reset button. Clarke Schmidt’s season-ending injury and Carlos Rodón’s struggles have left Fried as the only steady pitcher in a rotation built on pedigree but shaken by recent results.

And it’s not just Boone rallying the troops. Captain Aaron Judge voiced his own frustration: “It’s the little things… you can’t give a good team extra outs.” Boone aimed that bite at the locker room, not the media. The Yankees aren’t being overpowered; they’re unraveling from within.

Fried’s job, then, isn’t just to pitch deep. It’s to change the tone. Starting off strong could change the atmosphere. Bringing a sense of calm amidst the chaos while also serving as a reminder, to the team of their performance back in April and May. The importance of the game may seem exaggerated for a midseason matchup; however given the standings and rising frustration levels this Sunday game, in July holds more significance than meets the eye. It’s a moment of reckoning. And Fried, by all accounts, is exactly where the Yankees want him.

Six straight and slipping: Yankees swept into crisis mode

The Yankees didn’t just lose to the Mets, they looked lost. Saturday’s 12-6 unraveling at Citi Field wasn’t just another defeat; it was a snapshot of a team in freefall. That made six straight losses, two of them against their cross-town rivals, and a growing sense that the wheels are starting to come off. With slow defense, ice-cold bats, and a pitching staff running on fumes, everything that once worked is now breaking at the same time.

Not long ago, this team looked like a juggernaut. Now? The team’s current record stands at 48-41. They find themselves in a tie with the Rays for the spot in the AL East division while also closely trailing the surging Blue Jays team. It’s not just the placement that is disheartening but also the swift vanishing of their winning essence. This is not a case of losing to top-tier competitors but a situation where mistakes made by their own players are causing their downfall. Despite having a roster, at hand the team seems to be lacking a sense of direction as they navigate through each inning.

Manager Aaron Boone tried to reframe the chaos with perspective rather than panic. “As trite as it sounds, or as corny as it sounds, these are the moments that build character within a team,” Boone said after the loss. He didn’t stop there acknowledging the struggles, he emphasized that tough stretches like this one “help you find out and define what the heck you need moving forward.”

The message was clear: the Yankees are in crisis, but Boone isn’t ready to fold, yet.