For Braves fans hoping the injury bug would go extinct in the second half, we have some somber news. Another key injury came out this morning and it appears to be more of the same, thus the theme for the 2024 Atlanta Braves.
This time the victim is beloved ace Max Fried. He was placed on the 15-day injured list (backdated to July 18) with left forearm neuritis. In his place Atlanta called up LHP Dylan Dodd for the first time this season.
Max Fried placed on the IL, Dodd recalled
Dodd was expected to be called up after he was scratched from starting for Gwinnett yesterday. However, none of us were expecting Max Fried to be the guy he was called up for. Fried last pitched in regular season action on June 11, when he went six innings of one-run ball against Arizona. Fried also pitched an inning in the All-Star game on Tuesday, although he only threw 10 pitches.
All-Star Max on the mound 🔥#AllStarGame pic.twitter.com/rIhgnYRx7e
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 17, 2024
Braves country is collectively crossing their fingers it's nothing long-term for Fried. It certainly feels like if they want to be serious playoff contenders both Max Fried and Chris Sale need to enter October healthy.
Rightly so, as Max has had another stellar year in 2024. His 3.08 ERA, 3.54 FIP, and 95 K's will be very hard to replace over any length of time. It appears as though Dodd will get the first shot at doing so. Dodd last appeared at the big league level in 2023, where he pitched in seven games to the tune of a 7.60 ERA.
This season, Dodd has pitched for Gwinnett with mostly mixed results. On the year Dodd sports a 4.99 ERA in 83 innings pitched. Hopefully his first Major League action in 2024 yields better results than last year.
Atlanta has numerous storylines to watch for in the second half of the season, but one fans may start to fear more than others is the health of this rotation. We'll pass along more information as we get it, but any time you see an ace placed on the IL with the word "forearm" in the description, you have a right to be concerned.