The Atlanta Braves appear to be moving ever so slightly closer to getting the return of their workhorse ace, Max Fried. According to Braves beat reporter, Mark Bowman, Fried has traveled with the team to Cleveland and is set to throw his second live batting practice on Tuesday.
If all goes well, Bowman says there is a chance Max is cleared to begin his rehab assignment. Certainly positive news for the team that currently holds the best record in baseball.
Fried is here in Cleveland. He'll throw live batting practice for the second time tomorrow. If all goes well, he might be cleared to begin a Minor League rehab assignment.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) July 3, 2023
Max Fried has been sidelined since early May due to a left forearm strain. Fried has only made five starts in 2023, and holds a 2.08 ERA and 3.06 FIP. Despite being without the 2022 NL Cy Young award runner-up, and a 20-game winner in Kyle Wright, the Braves still boast the best record in baseball.
That being said the rotation hasn’t been as dominant as we know it can be, when it features two of it’s top guys. Atlanta currently ranks 13th in starting pitching fWAR (6.1), ninth in SIERA (4.11), and eighth in xFIP (4.05) via Fangraphs.
So the news of Fried getting closer to his return is enough to make Braves fans salivate. Because as good as this team offensively, there will come a stretch where the rotation will be leaned on more heavily. And leaning on a rotation with Max Fried in it is always a much safer bet, than one without.
But we can’t get ahead of ourselves here, first we have to hope for good feedback after the live BP tomorrow, then Fried will have to get some rehab games in before he jumps back into anchoring a major league rotation.
Luckily, with the rate at which the Braves are winning games, and the cushion of a lead they have provided themselves in the division, slow-playing Fried’s return until he’s absolutely ready to go is an option they can afford to exercise.