Max Fried takes positive step in return to Braves rotation

Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried was seen on the field throwing long pitches before Sunday’s series finale against the New York Mets.

Fried is eligible to be activated from injured reserve Friday.

That’s obviously an encouraging sign. As the report — from Fried’s perspective — reported, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi said Saturday that the Braves aren’t likely to sign an impact starting pitcher at the deadline because Fried is expected to return “relatively soon.”

The fact that Fried initiated the alert less than 24 hours after this report is a pretty clear indication that his activation date may be near.

He made his final appearance in the MLB All-Star Game on July 16. He pitched a scoreless second inning for the National League while walking one batter.

At the end of the week, the Braves placed him on injured reserve with neuritis in his left forearm.

Fried has not pitched in a regular-season game since July 11. He allowed just one run in a 1-0 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

If he returns by the time he’s eligible to be activated, he would be back in the rotation for a home game against the Miami Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers. Depending on when he returns, the Braves could be able to play him against both opponents.

Given how the Braves have performed since his injury, he can’t come back soon enough. The team is 2-6 since the All-Star break with a six-game losing streak, their longest since 2017, in between those two wins.

They certainly felt his absence during that stretch. The Atlanta starters who replaced him didn’t perform well and the rest of the rotation struggled as well.

Fried’s return, at least, would help calm some nerves and boost team morale.

Once back, the rotation for the remainder of the season, barring further injury, should consist of Fried, Chris Sale, Charlie Morton, Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Schwallenbach.