The Atlanta Braves have taken another blow to their starting rotation, but hopefully this one doesn’t last too long. Pitcher Max Fried was placed on the 15-day injured list with neuritis in his left forearm, according to David O’Brien of The Athletic.
Forearm neuritis is inflammation of the nerves rather than damage to ligaments, tendons or muscles, which is presumably a reason for optimism. The plan is to shut Fried down until the inflammation goes away and then get him back to playing. But it’s not expected to be as serious as season-ending injuries to pitcher Spencer Strider, who required Tommy John surgery, and National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr.
However, Atlanta faces a difficult decision, with Fried’s IL stint extending past the MLB trade deadline of July 30 — especially if he hasn’t recovered as expected. Will the Braves pursue pitchers like Garrett Crochet, Jack Flaherty, Nathan Eovaldi, Zach Eflin or Tarik Skubal now?
Fried, 30, appeared in Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game, throwing 10 pitches in a scoreless inning. Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters that Fried felt something on his forearm while warming himself with arm circles, but said nothing. He underwent an MRI scan on Friday after telling the team he was experiencing discomfort.
“He felt it when he was doing arm circles before pitching in the All-Star Game.”
Braves manager Brian Snitker discusses Max Fried injury news pic.twitter.com/nTD66vRLT4
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“I don’t think he thought it was enough not to [pitch],” Snitker said and later clarified that he doesn’t think the pitching in the All-Star Game caused the injury.
“It could have been something that probably would have been worse if he had left [Sunday]I did that and felt the heat in the bullpen,” he added.
Left-hander Dylan Dodd was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Fried’s spot on the roster. In 17 appearances (15 starts), he compiled a 4.99 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 83 innings.
The Braves clarified that Fried does not suffer from ulnar neuritis, in which the ulnar nerve in the elbow (or wrist) becomes irritated or compressed and is considered a more serious condition, according to O’Brien.
In 18 starts this season, Fried has a 3.08 ERA with 95 strikeouts in 108 innings. His inning total is the second-highest among Braves starters, behind Chris Sale’s 110 frames. Last year, Fried made just 14 appearances, although limited by a finger blister and a hamstring strain.
Atlanta currently sits in second place in the NL East with a 54-44 record, 8 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies. However, the Braves have the first playoff spot with a four-game lead over five other clubs behind them in the standings.
