Braves Face Injury Woes as Fried and Albies Land on IL
Braves Face Injury Woes as Fried and Albies Land on IL
The Atlanta Braves have hit a rough patch due to injuries, with All-Star pitcher Max Fried and second baseman Ozzie Albies being placed on the injured list. This development poses significant challenges for the team, which is navigating a competitive season.
Fried's All-Star Setback
Max Fried, one of the cornerstones of the Braves' pitching rotation, experienced discomfort in his left forearm while warming up for the All-Star Game on Tuesday. Fried described how the issue arose unexpectedly. "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," Fried explained.
The left forearm neuritis, which ultimately led to Fried's placement on the injured list, involves irritation or compression of the ulnar nerve. Thankfully, subsequent tests revealed no structural damage. "Took the day off after the game to travel home. Came in, played catch and still was feeling it," Fried continued. "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."
To fill Fried’s spot, the Braves have called up left-handed pitcher Dylan Dodd from the minors. Fried, who boasts a season record of 7-5 with a 3.08 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts against 34 walks in 108 innings, has been pivotal for the Braves. His absence will be felt deeply, especially considering he was the runner-up for the Cy Young award in 2022.
Albies' Hand and Wrist Struggles
On a parallel note, second baseman Ozzie Albies also finds himself on the injured list. Albies suffered a hand and wrist injury during the ninth inning of Sunday’s game. Providing a succinct assessment of Albies' condition, Braves manager Brian Snitker stated, "It's not good."
Before this injury, Albies had been delivering solid performances with a .255/.308/.403 line and eight home runs in 89 games this season. Notably, Albies had already missed ten days in April due to a toe fracture, which adds to his injury-laden season.
Impact on the Braves' Playoff Push
The Braves currently hold the top Wild Card spot in the National League with a promising 54-44 record. However, with key players like Fried and Albies sidelined, the team’s depth will be severely tested. Star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is out for the year, having torn his ACL in 2023, and pitcher Spencer Strider is still recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2024.
In the face of these challenges, the Braves will place significant reliance on their remaining pitching arsenal, including veterans Chris Sale and Reynaldo López, as well as up-and-comers like Dylan Dodd, Charlie Morton, and Spencer Schwellenbach. Managing these injuries effectively will be crucial as the Braves strive to maintain their competitive edge and secure their position in the playoffs.
Despite the current adversity, there is cautious optimism around Fried's return, given that his condition does not involve major structural damage. Albies's situation, albeit described as "not good," also leaves room for hope that he can rejoin the lineup before the season's critical stages.
In the brutal marathon of a baseball season, success often hinges on a team's ability to adapt and overcome injuries. For the Braves, this current wave of bad luck will test their resilience and depth as they aim to stay ahead in the National League Wild Card race. The road ahead will undoubtedly be challenging, but the Braves have shown they possess the tenacity to persevere.
