Braves’ Max Fried named to 2024 MLB All-Star Game

When he called Anthopoulos, Fried got the news: He had been selected to the National League All-Star team, replacing Phillies left-hander Ranger Suárez, who would not pitch in the game.

“I was really surprised,” Fried said. “I didn’t really expect it. It’s very exciting.”

This will be Fried’s second All-Star nomination and first since 2022. He will join fellow Braves starting pitchers Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez, as well as designated hitter Marcell Ozuna.

In 2022, Fried did not play in the All-Star Game as he opted for extra rest during the break. So Tuesday at Globe Life Field could be the first time Fried pitches in the Midsummer Classic.

“It’s exciting,” Fried said. “I don’t have a lot of information yet. It’s all still pretty fresh and new. But to be able to launch a project, it’s exciting. It’s a cool feat and I’m just excited and looking forward to the festivities.”

Fried, 30, has an MLB-best 3.08 ERA in 18 starts, including two complete games. He has 95 strikeouts and 34 walks in 108 innings. Fried is on pace to set a career-high in innings pitched (185-1/3 in 2022), part of the Braves’ sensational starting trio that has carried the club for much of the season.

It’s the first time since 1997, and the fourth time overall, that the Braves have had three All-Star starting pitchers. The other occurrence:

1993: John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Steve Avery

1996: Smoltz, Glavine, Greg Maddux

1997: Maddux, Glavine, Denny Neagle

On Saturday, MLB announced that Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez would replace Sale on the National League All-Star team. Sale was expected to start Sunday’s game in San Diego, which made him unavailable to pitch Tuesday.

Still, three of the Braves’ five starters were selected to the All-Star team. That’s a tremendous accomplishment for those guys and the Braves. And all three have fed off each other as they’ve carried the Braves this season.

“Absolutely,” Fried said. “Especially when Reynaldo has less than two minutes to play and Chris plays the way he does every time, it motivates you and pushes you to make sure that every time you get the ball, you give us a chance to win, you go deep into games. Luckily, we were able to do that pretty well. I know everybody is really looking forward to taking that momentum and energy into the second half as well.”

Both Fried and Lopez could pitch in the game. On Saturday, Lopez said Tuesday would be his workout day between starts. He will instead be available to pitch for the National League All-Stars.

Fried is one of the most accomplished starting pitchers in Braves history. He has posted an ERA under 3.00 in three of the last four years. He pitched six scoreless innings in the Braves’ series-clinching victory in Game 6 of the 2021 World Series against the Astros. He is the first Braves pitcher to make multiple All-Star appearances with the club since Julio Teheran (2014, 2016).

Since the Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966, they have had five starters make multiple All-Star games: Phil Niekro (four times), Smoltz (six times, plus twice as a reliever), Glavine (eight times), Maddux (six times) and Teheran (twice). Reliever Craig Kimbrel has also made four All-Star games.

A group of Braves will be spending time at a lake during the All-Star break. Fried had planned to join them.

He made changes to these plans.

“Yes,” he said. “Very, very good changes.”