Following elbow surgery that has benched Spencer Strider for the entire season, Max Fried has reassumed the position of the Atlanta Braves’ ace. Fried is set to take the mound on Monday night as the Braves kick off a three-game interleague series against the Seattle Mariners.
Since Strider’s surgery, Fried has been in top form, boasting a record of 2-0 with a remarkable 1.77 ERA over three starts. His recent standout performance included a shutout victory against the Miami Marlins, where he allowed only three hits in a 5-0 win, marking Atlanta’s first complete nine-inning game since September 2022.
Reflecting on his recent success, Fried attributed it to getting back to basics, focusing on generating ground balls and maintaining an aggressive pitching style.
Despite a rocky start to the season, where Fried struggled in his initial two outings against the Philadelphia Phillies and the Arizona Diamondbacks, he has since redeemed himself with his stellar performances, relieving the bullpen from any added pressure.
In a recent game against the Cleveland Guardians, the Braves secured a 4-3 victory in extra innings, with Austin Riley delivering the winning hit in the 10th inning. Braves reliever A.J. Minter described the series as reminiscent of postseason play, emphasizing the team’s ability to deliver timely hits when needed most.
On the Mariners’ side, despite a 3-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, they have won nine of their last 12 games, propelling them to the top of the American League West standings. However, their offense struggled in the recent loss, failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities early in the game.
The Mariners’ pitching staff has been particularly impressive, setting a franchise record with 16 consecutive games where starters allowed two runs or fewer. Bryce Miller will look to continue this streak as he takes the mound against the Braves on Monday, aiming to bounce back from a recent loss against the Texas Rangers. Miller has one previous appearance against Atlanta, while Fried has faced Seattle once before.
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