The Braves, who have spent almost three months without Max Fried, might not have to go much longer without their ace.
After making four rehab starts, Fried’s next start is expected to be for the Braves – provided all continues to go well over this upcoming week.
Fried on Saturday completed his fourth rehab start. He allowed two earned runs over 4⅓ innings. He struck out four batters and walked two.
The important part: Fried threw 79 pitches, which was in the range of the Braves’ goal of Fried getting to 75-80 pitches in an outing during his rehab assignment.
If Fried were to start Friday’s series opener against the Cubs in Chicago, he would be on an extra day of rest after Thursday’s Braves off day. The Braves don’t have to decide on where to slot Fried into their rotation until after their series with the Angels. They can continue to see how he feels and then make an official decision on his return.
But at this point, barring anything unforeseen, it seems his rehab assignment is over and that he’ll next pitch for the Braves.
In May, the Braves placed Fried on the injured list with a forearm strain. They shut him down from throwing. When he was cleared to begin throwing, he went through all the steps, from playing catch to long tossing to throwing bullpen sessions to pitching live batting practice to rehab starts.
Now, he is almost back.
If Fried were to start on Friday or Saturday, he would be in line to make another start in Pittsburgh during the Braves’ three-city road trip. This means he would pitch in Chicago and Pittsburgh, but not in New York.
Again, all of this is theoretical until the Braves officially decide on, and then announce, a day for Fried’s return to their rotation.
Fried made his first rehab start on July 9. He made three starts for Triple-A Gwinnett and one for High-A Rome. He didn’t experience any setbacks. His latest rehab start was delayed by a few days, but that was only because Fried fell ill.
Along with Fried, Kyle Wright (right shoulder strain) has been on the injured list since early May. Wright should return at some point in September.
This season has put a spotlight on depth. Around baseball, executives always stress the importance of organizational depth. The injuries to Fried and Wright have shown that the Braves did a nice job in this area.
Atlanta has used 12 starters – 15 if you count three relievers who opened bullpen games. No, it hasn’t always been easy. But the Braves are comfortably in first place in the National League East, and could earn the NL’s top seed for the postseason.
Despite playing without Fried and Wright for much of this season, the Braves’ starting pitchers entered Sunday with a 3.99 ERA, which was second in the National League and eighth in baseball.
Braves option Hearn, then later trade him
The Braves liked Taylor Hearn’s arm and believed he had upside, but his minor-league options were enticing. Those helped Atlanta improve its flexibility.
To create room for AJ Smith-Shawver — Sunday’s starter — on the 26-man roster, the Braves optioned Hearn to Gwinnett. Hours later, they traded Hearn to Kansas City for backup infielder Nicky Lopez.
The lefty didn’t have the best Braves debut. He allowed four runs and only recorded one out. He gave up two hits, and one was a homer. He issued two walks.
No Shohei Ohtani (on the mound)
For the three-game Angels series, the Braves will start Charlie Morton on Monday, Spencer Strider on Tuesday and Yonny Chirinos on Wednesday.
Shohei Ohtani – the Angels’ two-way phenom – is not scheduled to start a game on the mound. But he’s expected to be part of the club’s lineup.
The Braves will face right-hander Lucas Giolito, the Angels’ big deadline acquisition, on Wednesday. The Angels will start right-hander Griffin Canning on Monday and left-hander Patrick Sandoval on Tuesday.
A.J. Minter seems close to returning
A.J. Minter (left shoulder inflammation) is eligible to come off the injured list whenever he’s ready.
Did he feel OK on Sunday?
“Yeah,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.
Could he be activated on Monday?
“We’ll see,” Snitker said.
About the Author
