Braves Briefing: Is Max Fried coming back soon?

Max Fried is expected to be back soon after a scheduled rehab stint in Gwinnett on Sunday.

Fried, the Atlanta Braves pitcher who was the runner-up for the NL Cy Young award last year, had a strong start to the current season, posting a 2-1 record with an impressive 2.08 ERA across five starts. Unfortunately, he was recently placed on the injured list (IL) due to a forearm strain, marking his second IL stint of the season. Earlier in the year, he had to go on the IL briefly after sustaining a hamstring strain during his Opening Day start against the Washington Nationals. However, the hamstring injury only required a minimum stay on the IL without the need for any rehabilitation assignments.

Despite the absence of Fried and Kyle Wright, another Braves pitcher who is currently dealing with a shoulder issue, the team has managed to overcome these setbacks, largely thanks to their red-hot offense. In the month of June, the Braves' offense has outscored most other teams in baseball, helping them maintain a strong performance. Currently, the Braves are sitting comfortably at 30 games over .500, following a month where they did not lose a single series. Additionally, they achieved three different winning streaks of six or more games during that period.

The imminent return of Fried, expected shortly after the All-Star Break, will undoubtedly provide a significant boost to the Braves' rotation. While Fried has been sidelined, the rotation has relied heavily on the performances of Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton, and Bryce Elder. The last two spots in the pitching order have been in rotation, as the Braves have utilized a total of thirteen different starting pitchers this season in an attempt to fill the void left by the absence of Fried and Wright, who were key members of the 2022 rotation.

NL East Standings

Team	Record	GB	Action Today
Atlanta	58-28	-	@ Tampa Bay
Miami	51-38	8.5	Hosts Philadelphia
Philadelphia	47-39	11.0	@ Miami
NYM	41-46	17.5	@ San Diego
Washington	34-53	24.5	Hosts Texas

We wrote it

Lindsay Crosby wrote about the comments made by an MLB Network analyst concerning Atlanta's postseason chances.

The Atlanta Braves are good. We know that. We've always known that.
But with the June that Atlanta just had, setting new offensive records and winning what felt like ever game, now EVERYONE knows that. The National League is on notice.
MLB Network's Mark DeRosa was discussing the top contenders in the National League, and he said the Atlanta Braves unequivocally lead the list:

“At the end of the day, I think the entire league is looking at the Atlanta Braves because they are on another planet than everybody right now. From an offensive standpoint, remember the Bomba Squad in Minnesota? Set the record for most home runs. The Atlanta Braves are on pace to eradicate that. They could stick Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton, Elder on the mound. They could legitimately have half their roster going to Seattle.”

Check out the full article here.

How to watch the Atlanta Braves

The Braves start one of the most anticipated series of the year when Atlanta, with the best record in baseball, travels to St. Petersburg to take on the Tampa Bay Rays, owners of the American League's best record. Former Ray Charlie Morton (8-6, 3.57 ERA, 3.76 FIP) gets the ball for the Braves, while Tampa counters with Tyler Glasnow (2-2, 4.50 ERA, 3.68 FIP), a supremely talented right-hander who's still trying to fully regain his pre-Tommy John surgery form.

First pitch from the Trop is set for 6:40 Eastern. The game broadcast for Friday is available nationally on Apple TV+. The radio call, with Ben Ingram, is available locally on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan or outside the Atlanta market on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network or MLB.com, as well as an audio option on the Apple TV+ broadcast.

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