ATLANTA — The second half of the 2025 season has officially begun, and as the second half begins, some injury updates were provided by Aaron Boone and some of the players.

When talking to the media on Friday, Yankees ace Max Fried provided an update on the blister that has sidelined him, noting that both he and the team mutually agreed it was best to allow additional time for the issue to fully heal. “We just felt it was smart to be cautious and give it the proper time to recover,” Fried told reporters, emphasizing a long-term approach over rushing back prematurely.

Fried remains optimistic about returning to the mound during the Yankees’ upcoming series in Toronto, stating that his recent throwing sessions have gone well. “Playing catch has felt really good since it first popped up,” he said, referring to the blister that initially caused concern during his last start. The Yankees, who have dealt with various injuries to their pitching staff throughout the season, are hopeful Fried will be ready to make his next scheduled start as they gear up for a crucial stretch of games in the second half.

Aaron Boone announced that right-handed pitcher Cam Schlittler was originally scheduled to start tonight’s game; however, he was scratched due to experiencing discomfort in the area surrounding his right biceps.

As a precaution, the organization sent Schlittler for an MRI to assess the severity of the issue. Boone later confirmed to reporters that the MRI results came back clean, indicating no structural damage. While the team is optimistic about his condition, they are proceeding with caution to ensure Schlittler’s long-term health and availability as the season progresses.

According to Aaron Boone, there is a possibility that Fernando Cruz could make his way back to the Yankees bullpen at some point in August, depending on how his recovery progresses in the coming weeks.

Luis Gil will make his second rehab start today with the Somerset Patriots. Gil will target to throw about 57 pitches in the next step of his progression. Gil threw 50 pitches on Sunday in 3.1 innings of work. If it goes well, his next start would be Wednesday at Triple-A. If that goes well, the club *could* activate him.

Read more on Rico Garcia and his activation below:

(Top Image Credit: AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)