The Atlanta Braves won a tight but exciting game Thursday night with an 8-7 win in Los Angeles. Ronald Acuna Jr. made history hitting his 30th home run and becoming the only player in MLB history to have 30 HR and 60 SB in a season.
Max Fried will take to the mound looking to give the Braves another great start and closer to their 90th win of the year. Fried has struggled a tad since returning from the IL, as expected. However, he has still shown why he is the ace of this staff.
Fried pitched to a 3.58 ERA in August through 27.2 innings allowing 11 runs on 32 hits with 5 walks and 28 strikeouts. That brought his 2023 ERA up to 2.85 on the season which is not awful but we all know the standard Fried holds himself to.
Fried on Friday 🫡#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/7n2v2hFqyd
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 1, 2023
He carries a 3.19 ERA in his career against the Dodgers over 36.2 innings and he has pitched to a 3.86 ERA over 14 innings at Dodger Stadium with 2 walks and 18 strikeouts. So, hopefully, that good work continues for him.
Ozzie Albies also returns to the lineup after getting the night off in game one. Brian Snitker said they were treating his return sort of like a rehab assignment to ensure they don't reaggravate the hamstring.
He has a .225 average when facing the Dodgers so they seem to have his number but we all know how well Albies is doing this season at the plate so that could change at any moment. Julio Urias is pitching for the Dodgers tonight and Ozzie has a .273 average against him so things could be in his favor.
Another Brave to watch against Urias is Eddie Rosario who is 4-for-6 against him with 1 home run. Fans will remember the crazy run Rosario went on during the 2021 postseason especially against the Dodgers.
Urias struggled a tad in his last start against Boston as he allowed 6 earned runs through 6 innings with 1 walk and 9 strikeouts. He will want to come out and do a better job against the Braves as this offense can jump on an opposing pitcher quickly.
He does have a great ERA in his career against Atlanta with a 1.71 ERA through 21 innings pitched with 5 walks and 23 strikeouts.
Max Fried will have to navigate a great Dodgers lineup especially Max Muncy and Ahmed Rosario who have crushed Fried in their career. Muncy is 5-for-13 against Fried with 2 homers and 4 RBI. Ahmed Rosario is 8-for-19 against Max with 4 RBI. So, he will want to tread carefully with those batters and the scorching hot Mookie Betts.
Game two gets underway from Dodger Stadium at 10:10 PM EST on Bally Sports Southeast.