In a series of unfortunate events for the Atlanta Braves, the team has placed their All-Star pitcher Max Fried on the injured list due to left forearm neuritis. Fried began to feel discomfort while warming up for Tuesday's All-Star Game, leading to his current situation.
"Before the All-Star Game, I was warming up like I normally do and doing some arm circles. Felt something and didn't think much of it. In this game, you feel things all the time. Normally, they go away," Fried explained. "Didn't feel like I was in any jeopardy of really hurting myself."
After returning home and trying to play catch, Fried realized the discomfort wasn't subsiding. "At that point, knew I probably should say something if I wasn't going to be able to make my start. Got tests done, everything structurally looks great. Just irritated a sensory nerve, not one of the major muscle functioning nerves. Just going to let it calm down and hopefully be back soon," he added.
To fill the void left by Fried, the Braves called up left-handed pitcher Dylan Dodd from the minors. This season, Fried has been a standout on the mound, boasting a 7-5 record with a 3.08 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and racking up an impressive 95 strikeouts against 34 walks in 108 innings of work. His performance this year follows his runner-up finish for the Cy Young award in 2022, showcasing his consistency and elite skill level.
Adding to Atlanta's injury woes, second baseman Ozzie Albies also finds himself headed to the injured list. Albies sustained a hand and wrist injury in the ninth inning of Sunday's game. His contributions to the team have been significant, with a .255/.308/.403 line and eight home runs over 89 games this season. Unfortunately, this is not Albies' first injury issue this year; he missed 10 days in April due to a toe fracture.
Braves' manager Brian Snitker provided a blunt assessment of Albies' condition: "It's not good."
The Braves, currently holding the top Wild Card spot in the National League with a 54-44 record, now face a challenging period without two of their key players. This season has already been tough, with significant injuries to pivotal team members. Ronald Acuña Jr. tore his ACL in 2023, and Spencer Strider underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024, compounding the team's difficulties on the injury front.
In response to these setbacks, Atlanta will have to rely heavily on pitchers Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, Dylan Dodd, Charlie Morton, and Spencer Schwellenbach to carry the weight. The team remains hopeful that Fried’s injury will not be long-term, as tests have shown no structural damage.
Forearm neuritis, the condition affecting Fried, involves the irritation or compression of the ulnar nerve. Although this type of injury can be concerning, Fried's prognosis is positive, which might bring some relief to Braves fans and management alike.
As the Braves navigate through these injuries, they will need to lean on their depth and resilience to maintain their strong position in the National League. The upcoming games will be crucial, and the team's ability to adapt without Fried and Albies will be closely monitored by fans and analysts.
The hope remains that their star pitcher will return sooner rather than later, bringing back his prowess to the mound and helping to push the Braves deep into the postseason. Until then, all eyes will be on the replacements stepping up to fill the sizeable gaps left by these absences.