When Max Fried arrives in Atlanta, it won’t be just another series. It will be his first time returning to the place he called home for eight seasons.
Max Fried Set for Return to Atlanta as Braves Rotation Instability Remains
Now a New York Yankee, Fried is likely to toe the rubber during the interleague series at Truist Park. Assuming he’s fully recovered from a blister that ended his last outing. The left-hander has been dominant this season, going 11-3 with a 2.43 ERA through 122 innings. His fastball run value ranks in the top 1% of MLB pitchers. He’s been one of the most valuable arms in baseball by advanced metrics.
For Braves fans, seeing Fried on the opposing side will be a bittersweet reminder of what’s missing. From 2017 to 2024, Fried was a staple of Atlanta’s rotation, helping lead the team to a World Series title in 2021. In his final season with the Braves, Fried went 11-10 with a 3.25 ERA over 29 starts, tying for the league lead with two complete games and one shutout and ranking among the top in the National League in ground ball rate (59%) and opponent slugging percentage (.315).
After signing an eight-year, $218 million deal with the Yankees, Fried’s departure left a hole in Atlanta’s rotation that the team has struggled to fill.
Braves’ Rotation in Crisis
Atlanta enters the second half of the season at 42-53, sitting 12.5 games back in the NL East. The state of their pitching staff tells the story. Injuries have ravaged the rotation. Ace Chris Sale is out until at least August, Spencer Schwellenbach won’t take the hill again until September, A.J. Smith-Shawver is out for the season, and Reynaldo López remains without a clear recovery timeline following shoulder surgery.
The Braves’ attempts to patch the holes haven’t fared well. Top prospect Didier Fuentes was overwhelmed in his four major league starts, posting a brutal 13.85 ERA and a 0-3 record before being optioned to Triple-A. In his place, 27-year-old Nathan Wiles has been called up. Wiles has been solid in Gwinnett with a 3.33 ERA over 15 starts.
This Weekend’s Matchups
The Yankees have yet to announce their starters for the series against Atlanta officially but Fried is a candidate to take the mound. If so, it sets the stage for an emotional return to the place where he built his reputation.
Atlanta will open the series Friday night with Spencer Strider, who’s battled back from injuries of his own. Strider has posted a 3.94 ERA since returning from a hamstring strain in May, but his season record stands at 3-7, and his effectiveness with his fastball and offspeed pitches has been inconsistent.
Saturday’s Game 2 will feature Joey Wentz, likely in an opener role. The lefty, who last started regularly with the Tigers in 2023, struck out six over three scoreless innings of relief in his only appearance for Atlanta so far this season.
Grant Holmes will take the mound in Sunday’s series finale. Now in his second major league campaign, Holmes holds a 4-8 record with a 3.77 ERA. His breaking run value is among the top 4% of MLB pitchers, but his fastball has struggled to miss bats, with a run value metric in the bottom 4% of the league.
Fried’s Return Highlights Bigger Picture
As Fried prepares to pitch against the Braves for the first time, his presence underscores what Atlanta is missing: stability, leadership, and dominance atop the rotation. With the season slipping away and the NL East title growing more distant, the Braves are hoping someone, whether it’s Strider, Holmes, Wiles, or an unknown contributor, can emerge to fill that void.
For now, all eyes will be on Fried this weekend in Atlanta, and for Braves fans, it may be difficult not to wonder what could have been.
Main Photo Credits: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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