Max Fried helps Yankees edge Blue Jays
Max Fried continued his turnaround from a rough stretch by pitching seven innings and earning his fourth straight victory as the New York Yankees inched closer to the visiting Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East race with a 4-3 victory on Sunday afternoon.
The Yankees (80-63) won for the 11th time in 14 games since losing three straight to the Boston Red Sox Aug. 21-23 and pulled within two games of the Blue Jays (82-61).
Fried (14-5) allowed three runs on six hits and has a 1.67 ERA in his past four outings after posting a 6.80 ERA in his previous eight starts from July 1-Aug. 16. Fried struck out four, walked one, withstood two errors and got nine groundouts, including a double play to end the fifth.
Ben Rice hit a three-run homer four batters into the game off Max Scherzer and Cody Bellinger hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the third. Aaron Judge made his second start in right field since injuring a flexor tendon in his right elbow and completed a diving catch on George Springer's sinking liner to end the fourth and protect a 4-3 lead.
Judge walked three times and stole second before giving the Yankees the lead on Bellinger's double off the top of the right-center-field fence.
Devin Williams stranded two in the eighth and David Bednar easily finished off his fifth save with the Yankees.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit an RBI single and Nathan Lukes lifted a sacrifice fly to right field in the second for the Blue Jays, who won eight of the 13 meetings with the Yankees. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had his fourth straight multi-hit game and hit a tying RBI double in the third.
Bo Bichette (shin) sat out one day after being hurt in a collision with Yankees catcher Austin Wells.
Scherzer (5-3), who was pushed back a day to give his tight back another day to heal, allowed four runs on three hits in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out eight and walked four.
Following a walk to Judge and a bloop single by Bellinger, the Yankees took a 3-0 lead when Rice lifted a full count fastball into the right-center field seats. Rice hit his 23rd homer after fouling off a changeup into the second deck in right field earlier in the at-bat.
The Blue Jays scored two in the second on a single to left field by Kiner-Falefa and Lukes' fly ball when Judge did not attempt a throw to home plate. Following shortstop Anthony Volpe's 19th error, Guerrero lined a double to left field for a 3-3 tie in the third.
"Auston Matthews’ Cryptic Health Update Raises Alarm Bells: 'I’m Doing Everything I Can' But Fans Still Concerned"
Raleigh, North Carolina (April 13, 2025) – Auston Matthews, the star captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has the fanbase on edge after his latest comments about his health heading into the 2025-26 season. While Matthews insists he's feeling better than last year, his cryptic responses have left Maple Leafs fans more worried than reassured.
The Health Struggles Linger
Last season, the hockey world couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room: Auston Matthews’ health. Despite his elite status, Matthews posted career-low goal totals and only played 67 games, raising questions about whether he was truly at 100%. Matthews himself admitted that he wasn’t fully healthy, even seeking medical advice in Germany during the off-season.
Heading into the new season, Matthews is determined to bounce back. In an interview, he shared his optimism, saying, "I’m feeling a lot better than I did last season, but I’m not going to pretend everything is perfect. I’m doing everything I can to get back to my best, and I’ll take it one day at a time. My goal is to help this team win a championship, and I’ll do whatever it takes to be on the ice and give us the best chance to succeed."
However, Matthews’ guarded words have sparked more concern than confidence among the Leafs Nation. While his resolve is clear, the vagueness around his current condition has fans questioning whether they’ll be seeing a fully healthy Matthews in the lineup.
Fans Are on Edge: What’s Really Going On?
Social media has been flooded with disappointed and nervous fans expressing their frustrations. Many feel that Matthews, rather than being transparent about his health, is holding back vital information that could impact the team’s success. “Why is he being so vague? If he’s feeling better, why not just say it? This kind of uncertainty doesn’t inspire confidence,” one fan posted.
Another echoed these concerns: “It’s the same story from last year. The constant day-to-day injuries, the nagging issues. We need a captain who can play all season, not one who’s constantly ‘evaluating’ his health.”
Can the Leafs Still Win Without a Fully Healthy Matthews?
Even with the uncertainty around Matthews' health, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been successful in the past when he hasn’t been at his peak. Last year, despite Matthews managing only 78 points, players like John Tavares, William Nylander, and Matthews Knies helped keep the Leafs competitive, even leading them to a division title.
But the question remains — can the Leafs go far in the playoffs without their captain playing at his best? The Atlantic Division is fierce, and if Matthews continues to face lingering health issues, Toronto might find themselves in trouble against tougher competition.
The Road to the 2026 Olympics: Matthews' Dual Goals
Matthews’ immediate priority may be getting ready for Team USA’s 2026 Winter Olympics campaign, as he expressed his desire to win a gold medal with his national team. However, his involvement in international play raises further questions. Fans are wondering if Matthews will risk pushing through any remaining injuries for a shot at Olympic glory or if he’ll focus on healing for the long term.
Looking Forward: A Critical Season Ahead for Matthews and the Leafs
As the 2025-26 NHL season approaches, Matthews’ health is the biggest unknown for the Toronto Maple Leafs. While he’s determined to contribute to the team and his Olympic dreams, fans are hoping for full transparency and, above all, a healthy captain. With the Leafs’ playoff hopes riding on Matthews’ ability to lead both on and off the ice, there’s no room for uncertainty — especially not when it comes to their best player.
For now, Leafs Nation will hold their breath, hoping that the captain’s optimism proves to be well-founded and that he’ll be ready for a full season of hockey. Only time will tell whether Matthews’ body and mind will align for a championship run.
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