WASHINGTON – Max Fried will miss the rest of the season. But his recent blister problem doesn’t eliminate the likelihood that he will serve as the Braves’ starter in either Game 1 or Game 2 of the National League Division Series.
Fried was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday morning and the club recalled right-hander Darius Vines from Triple-A Gwinnett. The southpaw pitched six solid innings in a 10-3 win over the Nationals on Thursday night, but a recurring blister began to form again during his final inning.
The 15-day deadline expires on October 6, one day before the Braves begin the NLDS. So Fried would be available to start Game 1 on October 7th or Game 2 on October 9th.
“He will be able to get through [the IL] right before the Division Series, so hopefully he gets his start in that series,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He can throw farther.” We can keep him active by just covering this thing up. It was bad enough that he wouldn’t make his next start.
Fried struggled with blister problems during his time in the minor leagues and after reaching the majors for the first time in 2017. No problems have been reported in recent years, but he indicated earlier this week that he had just found a better way to deal with blisters in recent years.
Snitker said this latest bubble is on the pad of Fried’s index finger. Many of the previous blisters that developed on this finger were closer to the fingernail.
“This obviously happens a lot,” Fried said Thursday evening. “It’s just more about dealing with it and dealing with it. It is more of a case by case decision. But I should be good to go. Playoffs are the most important thing. Whatever gets us there, that’s what we’re going to do.”
Fried was given a few extra days of rest after the blister formed during the final inning of his five-inning effort against the Phillies on September 12th. The delay was effective enough that he was able to complete five of his six innings Thursday night without blistering discomfort.
Snitker didn’t realize the blister had reappeared until Fried left the game and went to the clubhouse to undergo his normal post-game treatment.
While Fried gets more rest, he can keep his arm strong by placing tape over his index finger with each throw. He will likely play in at least one simulated game at some point in the next few weeks.
“I hate for him to have to go through all of this again,” Snitker said.
The Braves are confident that Fried’s bubble will go away or at least become manageable. But there is now at least reason to question whether the left-hander would be available for two starts during the NLDS. Since there is a rest day between the first two games, the Game 1 and Game 2 starters can make a second start in the best-of-five series with normal rest.