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Atlanta Braves 2023 season preview: Max Fried’s injury-plagued year
The struggle to remain on the field
Unfortunately, we don’t have much coverage for Fried’s 2023 season because he has been battling injury since opening day. Max was named the Opening Day starter in late March and took the mound against the Nationals on the road. Max only lasted four innings in Washington before leaving with hamstring tightness.
That was his first stint in the IL. When he returned in mid-April, he made three solid Max Fried starts. However, in his May 5th start against the Baltimore Orioles, he gave up seven runs and was placed on the IL for the second time, this time with a forearm strain.
Fried returned from that injury with a vengeance in August, pitching six innings of shutout ball at Wrigley Field. Max would go on to make seven more starts in August and September, including a dominant seven innings of shutout baseball with ten strikeouts against the mighty Dodgers.
Unfortunately, Max’s final injury in 2023 came in mid-September after his start against the Phillies, when he battled a blister, something he has done frequently in his baseball career. As with all of Fried’s injuries in 2023, Atlanta proceeded with extreme caution.
Fried’s hand treatment went well enough that he was able to start game two of the NLDS against Philadelphia. As Braves fans are aware, that was the only game the Braves won in that series. Fried had an 8-1 record, 2.55 ERA, 3.14 FIP, 3.38 SIERA, and 1.9 fWAR in 14 starts this year, according to Fangraphs.
What lies ahead?
Fried continued to excel at limiting hard contact and overall baserunners. His baseball guru page is strewn with red circles. Given how last season went, Fried’s main concern heading into 2024 is obviously health. His top priority will be to make as many starts as possible.
After that, who knows, because Fried will be a free agent in 2024. Many Braves fans have grown accustomed to watching Max pitch, but next season could be the last. Stay tuned to House That Hank Built as we continue to publish all of these 2023 player reviews throughout the winter.
