Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Braves make right call in placing ace on IL for third time this season

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 9/22/23

The Atlanta Braves made the difficult yet correct call in placing ace Max Fried on the injured list for the third time this season on Friday.

The #Braves today recalled RHP Darius Vines to Atlanta and placed LHP Max Fried on the 15-day injured list with a blister on his left index finger.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 22, 2023

It's Fried's third IL stint this season. Strained left hamstring opening day (15 days on IL) and strained his left forearm May 5 and missed nearly three months. He's been outstanding between IL stints, going 8-1 with a 2.55 ERA in 14 starts with 80 Ks and 18 walks in 77 2/3 IP.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) September 22, 2023

As noted by David O'Brien of The Athletic, the lefty has been terrific when healthy this season.

Given the team's playoff positioning entering the final stretch of the regular season, the Braves are making the right decision in playing it safe with the 29-year-old.

Atlanta has already clinched the NL East, has a three-and-a-half game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the Senior Circuit and a three-game edge on the Baltimore Orioles for the best mark in MLB.

Even without Fried, the Braves still have All-Star (and NL Cy Young contender) Spencer Strider as their No. 1, with veteran Charlie Morton and 24-year-old All-Star Bryce Elder to help lead the rotation through the final couple of weeks of the regular season. They also boast one of the best offenses in the game, spearheaded by a pair of NL MVP candidates in first baseman Matt Olson and outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr.

If Atlanta wants to win its second World Series title in three years, it may need to knock off the likes of the Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies in the NL playoffs. Having a healthy Fried in October would go a long way in accomplishing that goal.

The NLDS is scheduled to begin on Oct. 7, meaning that the southpaw has two weeks to recover from his latest ailment.

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