If this is the Max Fried the Braves will have come October, a World Series run becomes that much more conceivable. His emergence completely alters the rotation’s outlook.
Fried mowed down the Nationals with ease, rewarding the Braves a 4-2 victory in the series opener at SunTrust Park Thursday night. He made one of the league’s best offenses look powerless, gliding through a dangerous lineup effortlessly in his best start of the season.
“I feel great, physically, mentally,” Fried said. “I feel like I’m back into my mechanics I had at the beginning of the year. Ball is coming out really well.”
The win eliminated the possibility of a Nationals’ four-game sweep. Washington, now eight games back, desperately needs to win the next three to have any fathomable shot at catching the Braves in the National League East.
The Braves lowered their magic number to 15. They’ve won 18 of their last 22 games, moving to a season-best 33 games over .500. This was their seventh win in a row and 11th consecutive victory at SunTrust Park, where they’re 45-27 after posting a pedestrian mark (43-38) in 2018.
“Game 1 of a series like this is always big,” manager Brian Snitker said. “That team has been playing as good as anybody in the game. And they showed you why in the ninth inning (when Washington cut the deficit in half). We’re two similar clubs. They just keep coming at you. They keep having good at-bats. They don’t give away bats at all throughout their lineup.”
It was Fried’s best outing of the year, though he stopped short of saying so. The lefty made Washington’s potent offense look laughable. He induced easy grounders and shallow pops. He struck out nine and walked none. His slider-curveball combo was the best it’s been this year.
Fried tossed seven scoreless, allowing one hit – an infield stroke by Anthony Rendon in the first frame. Otherwise, the 25-year-old was flawless. He outdueled Stephen Strasburg, who was charged three runs on RBIs from Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman, along with allowing Ronald Acuna’s 37th homer.
“It helps when you know you have a defense behind you that’s going to make some really special plays,” Fried said. “I just wanted to go after them, attack. We know how important this series is this time of the year. I wanted to give us the best chance to win that I possibly could.”
He was lifted at 90 pitches, with Snitker opting for the usual conservative play and pulling Fried after the southpaw had retired 19 consecutive batters. He struck out Juan Soto on a 96-mph fastball to end his night.
Fried was at the peak of his powers. And the Braves, with three more weeks to sort out how they’ll approach the postseason, must be enthralled with how effective Fried has been since Aug. 1. Outside of allowing five runs against the Mets on Aug. 24, Fried has held the opponent to three or fewer earned runs across five-plus frames in six of his last seven starts.
The left-hander’s ERA dropped to 3.86, while his strikeout-to-walk ratio is 159:42. The Braves have won Fried’s last nine starts.
“He’s taken that next step in his development and he’s turned into one of those pitchers you want taking the ball every fifth day,” catcher Brian McCann said. “He’s really, really good. He’s pitching big in big spots.”
There are 21 games remaining in the regular season, with much yet to be determined, but Fried is making a strong case to earn the No. 3 spot in the team’s postseason rotation. If he replicates a similar showing to Thursday moving forward, the Braves should feel pretty comfortable with Mike Soroka, Dallas Keuchel and Fried leading the NLDS rotation.
The Braves can ensure at least a series split Friday when Keuchel faces Patrick Corbin. The Braves are 7-6 against the Nationals with five head-to-head meetings left.
