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AL Division Series Game 3: Max Fried vs. Nick Martinez

The Yankees face elimination after falling into a 2-0 hole in the AL Division Series against the Rays, with Game 3 at Yankee Stadium serving as their last chance to avoid a sweep. Max Fried, who has been rumored to potentially miss the start due to his girlfriend’s impending childbirth, confirmed he will pitch and aims to secure his second postseason win.

Fried’s performance will be crucial, as the Rays have dominated the Yankees’ rotation in recent games, while the Yankees’ offense has struggled to find consistency, despite Ben Rice’s standout postseason play (7-for-15, including multiple multi-home-run games). Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s Nick Martinez, making his first career postseason start, will look to build on his improved regular-season numbers (3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) and avoid the mistakes that cost him in his last playoff appearance.

The matchup pits Fried’s left-handed pitching against a Rays lineup that has historically struggled against lefties, adding another layer of intrigue to a high-stakes game.

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