Max Fried Injury Update: Braves ace lands on 15-day IL, expected to return in time for postseason

On September 22, the Braves announced that Max Fried would be heading to the 15-day IL. With the left-handed starters designation, the Braves are faced with the prospect of beginning the postseason without the arm who has been the best in their rotation this season.

With a record of 98-55, the Atlanta Braves have the best record in MLB. They were also the first team to clinch a postseason berth. Starting pitching has been a huge factor contributing to the sustained success of the team this season.

"Max Fried hits the IL for the third time this season" - Talkin' Baseball

The announcement represents the third time of the season that Max Fried will find himself on the injured list. The 29-year old faced hamstring issues in the early goings of the season. He was also out of the rotation for about ten games in mid-September after battling forearm pain.

This time, Fried is heading to the IL with a finger blister. To replace the fallen arm, the Atlanta Braves announced that they would be recalling right-hander Darius Vine from Triple-A Gwinnett.

Although injuries have presented a challenge for Fried, he has pitched exceptionally well. In 14 starts, the California-born pitcher has a record of 8-1, and leads all Braves starters with an ERA of 2.55. Fried has also fanned 80 batters across 77 innings and owns a WHIP of 1.133.

Now fourteen games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies, who are second in the NL East, the Braves are playing a waiting game. While everyone knows that the team will feature in the MLB playoffs for the sixth straight season, nobody knows who their first-round adversaries will be.

"Max Fried has tallied 60 wins since the start of the 2019 season — most among National League pitchers over that five-year span" - Bally Sports Braves

Max Fried will be an integral part of the Braves' postseason success

As the odds-on favorite to win their second World Series in three years, the Braves will be bringing it in the postseason. Led by MVP-presumptive Ronald Acuna Jr., the team's unique mix of offensive firepower and pitching excellence puts them in a very strong place.

While other pitchers like Spencer Strider, Bryce Elder and Charlie Morton have proven themselves to be more than capable, Fried is also an indispensable part of the rotation. Now, fans can only hope that their team will be as ready as possible come playoff time.