Atlanta Braves see the best of Max Fried yet

To say that Atlanta Braves starter Max Fried had a shaky start to the season could be considered an understatement. His first four starts were rough enough that he allowed three earned runs in five innings (equivalent to a 5.40 ERA) once and his ERA dropped by almost a point.

The Braves had the support to win every game, but it looked like they might have a problem on their hands. They had already been without him for much of 2023, and then they potentially had to worry about him struggling.

Fortunately for the Braves, manager Brian Snitker is not the instinctive type. Fried didn’t just settle back into a rhythm. We are witnessing perhaps the best version of the 30-year-old southpaw yet.

On April 23, Fried threw a complete game shutout against the Miami Marlins and never looked back. Including that shutout, Fried has allowed one run or less in six of his last eight appearances, resulting in a 2.00 ERA over that span.

According to Statmuse, in his last 10 starts, Fried also has a WHIP of 0.86, a HR/9 of 0.53 and has held opposing hitters to a .170 average and a .465 OPS. If he continues like this, he could achieve several career-best statistics.

More efficiency and fewer base runners mean more innings; he dove deeper into games.

Fried made six outings in his last 10 starts where he pitched at least seven innings, including a second complete game on May 22.

Fried sees gratification in being able to get deeply involved in games.

“I pride myself on going deeper into matches,” Fried said after his second complete match. “On nights when you’re being efficient and not losing shots, it’s just about putting your foot on the gas and keeping going, rather than thinking about it or waiting for the other shoe to drop. “

The fresher the Braves are, the better, and it gives Snitker some reason to take the ball out of his hands lately.

Another major test ahead

Fried is scheduled to make his next start Sunday in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. With the second-best OPS in MLB (.765), Fried will be subjected to his toughest test yet. Precedent is not on his side. His two weakest outings since April 23 were against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles – the other two top-three offenses this season.

However, if he gets past the Yankees, it can be seen as a sign that he is starting to stand out against tougher opponents and will have done so in hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium. Good news for a team with playoff aspirations.

This is not an easy task.

These are the types of outings that strengthen a player’s case for All-Star appearances and put him in contention for the Cy Young Award.