What happened: New York Yankees ace Max Fried is set to rejoin the rotation next week in Chicago. Manager Aaron Boone told the "Talkin' Yanks" podcast that the left-hander will throw about 60 pitches in a second rehab start on Wednesday before being activated.
Why it matters: The rotation reinforcement comes at a critical time for New York ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The club has managed to stay competitive despite significant absences, as slugger Aaron Judge and starter Carlos Rodon still lack firm recovery timelines.
By the numbers: New York holds a 50-41 record and trails the Tampa Bay Rays by 1.5 games in the American League East standings.
What to watch: Fried makes his final tune-up start on Wednesday before traveling for Monday's series opener.