Manager Brian Snitker confirmed yesterday that Max Fried would be returning Monday night as the Atlanta Braves opened up a series in San Diego. Fried has been out since he had to exit the game on opening day against the Nationals. The hamstring injury suffered was a result of Fried tightening up when attempting to cover first base. The Braves placed Fried on the IL out of an abundance of caution.
During the time that their ace has spent on the shelf, the Braves have managed to go 12-4 and produce the second best win/loss record in major leauge baseball. Although they have strung together a six-game win streak the rotation has yet to see a starter pitch deep into a ballgame on a consistent basis. Luckily the return of their workhorse ace should help change that. The Braves picked a great time for the California native to return to the rotation, as the team will be looking to garner some revenge on a Padres team that took three out of four games from them in Truist Park.
Another reliever to the IL
In order to reinstate Fried from said injured list, a corresponding move had to be made, so this afternoon saw Lucas Luetge get placed on the 15-day injured list with left bicep inflammation, retroactive to April 14th.
The #Braves today reinstated LHP Max Fried from the injured list, and placed LHP Lucas Luetge on the 15-day injured list with left bicep inflammation, backdated to April 14.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 17, 2023
Luetge last pitched on April 12th against the Reds when he went two innings with three strikeouts. So far in 2023 Luetge has pitched 6.2 innings with a 8.10 ERA and WHIP of 1.80. The lefty reliever hasn’t found himself pitching with too many leads, so this shouldn’t shake up the bullpen for Snitker considerably. The Braves still have plenty of lefty options out the bullpen with Minter, Lee, and Young, as well as soon expected returns from backend guys, Raisel Iglesias and Collin McHugh.