Max Fried's injury places Braves star on injured reserve

Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried, less than a half-season away from free agency, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with forearm neuritis, a potentially troubling development for an injury-plagued club.

Fried, 30, told the Braves he felt some discomfort while warming up for his All-Star appearance Tuesday but it subsided and he pitched a scoreless inning, manager Brian Snitker told reporters Sunday.

But when the pain returned Friday, Fried notified the team and underwent an MRI and other tests. The imaging, Snitker told reporters, revealed no tissue damage but did show nerve irritation.

Fried, who missed the 2015 minor league season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, was sidelined for more than two months in 2023 with a forearm strain. While both forearm injuries aren’t necessarily bad news, they can certainly be precursors to elbow ligament problems.

The Braves, the six-time defending NL East champion, are hoping Fried can return once his stint on the injured list ends, but that span will cover Major League Baseball’s July 30 trade deadline, leaving Atlanta potentially in a position to work the market as uncertainty surrounds arguably their best pitcher.

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Fried becomes the third former Braves All-Star to suffer a major injury this season, joining Spencer Strider (Tommy John surgery) and reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. (torn ACL). Still, the Braves have an enviable front-row roster, led by fellow All-Stars Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez. Minor leaguer Dylan Dodd was recalled to replace Fried on the active roster.

Fried has a 3.08 ERA in 18 starts this season, which ranks fifth in the National League, and his two complete games lead the league. He is one of a handful of young players the Braves haven’t signed long-term, along with Acuña, Strider, center fielder Michael Harris Jr. and infielders Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies.

He should be one of the best free agent pitchers available this winter.

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