The Atlanta Braves have found themselves grappling with significant roster challenges as they announced the placement of All-Star pitcher Max Fried on the injured list due to left forearm neuritis. This unexpected development surfaced when Fried experienced discomfort while warming up for Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
Fried himself explained the situation, shedding light on the nature of his injury. "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. Didn't feel like I was in any jeopardy of really hurting myself," he detailed.
Unfortunately, the discomfort persisted. "Took the day off after the game to travel home. Came in, played catch and still was feeling it. 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," Fried elaborated.
To mitigate Fried's absence, the Braves have called up left-handed pitcher Dylan Dodd from the minors. Dodd will be crucial as the team navigates the coming weeks, especially considering Fried's stellar performance this season, boasting a 7-5 record, a 3.08 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts over 108 innings.
Fried's candidacy for the Cy Young award in 2022 underscores his vital role within the Braves' pitching lineup. The focus now shifts to managing without him while he recovers. The nature of forearm neuritis, involving the irritation or compression of the ulnar nerve, fortunately has not resulted in any structural damage according to recent tests.
Ozzie Albies Faces Injury Hurdles
Adding to the Braves' woes, second baseman Ozzie Albies has been sidelined following a hand and wrist injury sustained during the ninth inning of Sunday's game. Manager Brian Snitker did not mince words about Albies's condition, remarking, "It's not good."
Albies, who had a .255/.308/.403 line with eight home runs in 89 games this season, had already missed ten days earlier in the season due to a toe fracture. His repeated absences are a significant blow to the Braves' infield strength and offensive consistency.
Braves' Current Standing and New Lineup Dynamics
Despite these setbacks, the Braves hold the top Wild Card spot in the National League with a 54-44 record. This places immense pressure on the remaining roster to maintain their position and strive for postseason success.
The team will now lean heavily on their pitching rotation, which includes Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, Dylan Dodd, Charlie Morton, and Spencer Schwellenbach. Each player will need to step up to fill the void left by Fried and maintain the team's competitive edge.
Recent history has shown the Braves adapting to adversity. Ronald Acuña Jr. faced an ACL tear in 2023, and Spencer Strider underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024. These challenges have tested the Braves’ resilience and adaptability, attributes that will be called upon once more with the current lineup adjustments.
As the Braves aim to stabilize their roster and build upon their current standing, managing player health and performance will remain pivotal. The sports world will be closely watching how Atlanta navigates these unanticipated hurdles in their quest for postseason success.