Atlanta Braves: Max Fried struck by line drive, Dodgers dominate in Game 2 loss
By Steven Teal
1. Max Fried has a night to forget
Atlanta Braves fans aren’t used to seeing Max Fried struggle too much in 2019. The Dodgers had other plans for the Braves young southpaw.
Fried struggled in the first inning as he threw 31 pitches in the first inning, while allowing 3 earned runs.
With a three-run first, the Dodgers have already tallied more runs than Fried had surrendered in five of his previous six starts.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) May 8, 2019
Max almost made it out of the first inning only allowing 1 earned run (a solo homer by Justin Turner) but Dansby Swanson was unable to make a play on a hard hit ball to second with 2 outs in the bottom of the first inning.
After fans held their breath after Fried slid head first into home plate during game three against the Marlins on Sunday afternoon, they would witness yet another scary moment with Fried on Tuesday night.
Dodgers rookie outfielder Alex Verdugo laced a line drive back to the mound and Fried fell to the ground immediately.
Here is a look at where the line drive hit Max Fried.
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) May 8, 2019
We will have more information when it comes available. #Braves | #ChopOn pic.twitter.com/7hMXYX6tV0
Max took the ball right off of his left hand and was unable to continue in the game. He would finish Tuesday’s game allowing 4 earned runs across 1 inning of work. This jumped his ERA up to 2.97.
Josh Tomlin would pitch 4 innings of relief for Atlanta and did a nice job allowing just 1 earned run on 2 hits. Unfortunately, the Dodgers just wouldn’t go away.
Atlanta Braves fans can breathe a temporary sigh of relief as X-Rays came back negative on Fried’s left hand.
If you just missed Chip say it on @FOXSportsBraves, x-rays on Max Fried’s hand were NEGATIVE. We’re being told he’s day-to-day for now. #Braves will want to see how he feels tomorrow before they come to any conclusions. But this is great news.
— Kelsey Wingert-Linch (@KelsWingert) May 8, 2019
Hopefully the Braves were able to avoid a horrible injury to arguably their best starter so far in 2019.
#Braves’ Max Fried has some mild swelling and stitch marks from ball on the outside of his hand, but strength tests were good and he hopes to make his next start as scheduled Sunday.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) May 8, 2019