It was billed as a revenge series. A chance for the Yankees to upturn the script after last season’s World Series heartbreak at the hands of the Dodgers. For the Yankees and their supporters, this was not just another halt on the schedule, it was personal. The stakes were not just about standings; they were about pride, payback, and showing this year would be different.
But under the bright lights of Dodger Stadium, things untangled fast. Max Fried, the Yankees’ new ace and emblem of postseason redemption, could not contain Shohei Ohtani, who ignited him for two towering home runs. By the end of the night, the storyline had shifted again. This was not just a rematch, it was a rerun. And Fried owned every bit of it.
It was not expected to go down like this. Max Fried, undefeated before Friday night, walked into Dodger Stadium carrying the expectations of a redemption-hungry Yankees fanbase. But just five innings later, he was walking off the mound with his first loss of the season, bombarded for six runs on eight hits, containing two crushing home runs by none other than Shohei Ohtani. That outing ballooned his ERA from a stellar 1.29 to a still-respectable but painful 1.92. The Yankees had bolted out to an early lead, and for Fried, that made it penetrate more.
Rather than dive under the spotlight, Fried faced the music head-on. “I just did not do my job,” he admitted, resonating a sentiment that hits harder than any fastball Ohtani squeezed. The lefty revealed his intent was not to pitch up, but he missed his spots twice in the same zone, and Ohtani did not forgive either one. “I was not trying to go up… he is a good hitter. Made two mistakes in the same spot, and he hit them out,” Fried told reporters. It was not just one bad pitch, it was a lack of execution against one of baseball’s most menacing hitters.
That lack of execution did not stick with Ohtani. Max Fried acknowledged the difficulty of navigating a stacked Dodgers lineup, many of whom were part of last year’s World Series-winning squad. “They are good players… they know how to win games,” he said, highlighting how slim the margin for error is when facing a team with that much firepower. Despite the early cushion provided by the Yankees’ offense, Fried could not hold the line. “The guys did a great job tonight putting up early runs,” he said, before once again taking the fall. “And for the most part, I just did not do my job.”
Still, there was no sense of panic in Fried’s tone — only accountability. “I’m a competitor,” he said firmly. “You’ve just got to be able to use it as motivation to go out next time and make sure it doesn’t happen again.” His focus is already on learning from the outing and moving forward. As tough as the night was, it was clear Fried wasn’t looking for excuses. Just answers — and redemption.
Max Fried said “I just didn’t do my job.”
“I’m a competitor,” the #Yankees‘ ace added. “I want to go out there and win. So the fact that we had a lead and I gave it up a couple times, it’s not going to sit well with me.”
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) May 31, 2025
Building on the sting of the Yankees’ latest loss and Max Fried’s candid self-blame, the bigger stage of the Dodgers vs. Yankees rivalry continues to captivate fans—and Hollywood royalty, too.
Dodgers vs. Yankees series sparks high stakes and Hollywood predictions
Rob Lowe, the $100 million Hollywood veteran famous for iconic roles in “The West Wing” and “Parks and Recreation,” is no casual observer. The star’s current reviews on the Dodgers-Yankees battle highlight just how deep the buzz runs beyond the field. “I feel good about us,” he said with the confidence of a true Dodgers fan and it added a dose of playful competitiveness: “Let’s just hope neither one of our teams s- the bed in a short series that matters and we will teach each other in October.” Such a Hollywood endorsement amps up the drama related to this age-old baseball rivalry.
The series at Dodger Stadium has already provided sparks, with home runs flying. Despite battling injuries, the Dodgers have leaned on stars like Mookie Betts and Ohtani. Their power continues to haunt the Yankees. However, the Yankees’ offense is battling tough to avenge last October’s World Series heartbreak. With the memory of that loss still fresh, the Yankees are also focusing on vital reinforcements, like a powerful blockbuster trade for Max Scherzer. As the future Hall of Famer inches toward a return from injury, the Yankees could look to enhance their rotation by acquiring him from the Blue Jays, a move that could add experience and postseason pedigree to their playoff push.
The rivalry never fails to provide drama—and this current series is not distinctive. Max Fried’s honest self-reflection highlights the high stakes and force such stars face, while Shohei Ohtani’s heroics remind us why MLB’s biggest battles are always related to more than just numbers. As these two powerhouses gear up for the next chapter, one aspect is clear: this season’s showdown is just heating up. Stay tuned, because the fight for redemption is far from over—and the best is yet to come.
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