Fans that watch the Tampa Bay Rays closely know that the team has a pretty decent offense. It was seriously lacking some pops from their hitters as New York Yankees starter Max Fried held them in check.

Fried, who was signed by the Yankees to an eight-year contract in the offseason, literally had Rays hitters guessing at the plate. He only allowed a single from José Caballero in seven innings of work, sending Tampa Bay to its fifth shutout of the season in a 3-0 Yankees victory at Yankees Stadium on May 2.

All Rays manager Kevin Cash could do was tip his cap toward Fried, who also struck out six in getting the victory. “Look, he’s done it to every team. Certainly with us he’s probably been at his best, but he’s really good,” Cash said, according to MLB.com. “Right now, he’s able to execute pitches kind of at will.”

Tampa Bay had no answer at all for New York Yankees starter Max Fried on Friday night

Fried was named American League Pitcher of the Month on Friday, beating out Houston Astros starter Hunter Brown. Fried is now 6-0 this season with a 1.01 earned-run average.

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There’s no doubt that Fried has had the Rays’ number when facing them this season. Tampa Bay is now 3-for-45 against Fried after being held to just that one hit. It marked the Rays’ lowest offensive numbers ever against New York.

“He’s mixed well. He’s got really good stuff, great pitchability,” Cash said. “Every pitch that he had, he seemed to throw with a lot of conviction where it needed to go.”

Fried has seven pitches in his arsenal, which gives him a definite edge against AL hitters. After the game, even Caballero was amazed at the opposing pitcher’s efforts.

“He doesn’t have a routine or something that you can pick up. He always changes speed, changes velocity, changes location, changes [the] shape of the ball, everything,” Caballero said. “He’s just one of those guys that is really tough to hit. You have to pick a good mistake, and he didn’t make many.”

The Rays are going to try and get back in the win column on Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.