ATLANTA — The Braves suffered significant losses beyond just their series defeat to the Cardinals on Sunday.
Before the series finale, Atlanta placed All-Star left-hander Max Fried on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to July 18, due to left forearm neuritis.
During the ninth inning of Sunday’s 6-2 loss to the Cardinals at Truist Park, Ozzie Albies exited the game with an apparent left wrist injury. Postgame X-rays revealed a fractured left wrist, sidelining Albies for approximately eight weeks. Albies was injured while trying to tag out Michael Siani, who collided with his glove hand during a steal attempt. Manager Brian Snitker and trainers checked on Albies, who quickly left the field.
“The runner hit [his hand], and that’s never good,” Snitker said. “We’ll put him on the IL and handle the necessary moves.”
Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud made the throw to second base in an attempt to catch Siani.
“The throw was up the [second base] line a bit, and [Albies] reached for the ball as the runner arrived,” d’Arnaud said. “He grabbed his hand or wrist immediately. It didn’t look good. I tried to check on him, but he walked off the field right away.”
While the Braves have not yet announced a replacement for Albies, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports they are likely to call up Triple-A Gwinnett infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr., Atlanta’s No. 5 prospect, who boasts a 1.007 OPS with seven home runs and 24 RBIs in 28 games for the Stripers.
Atlanta recalled left-hander Dylan Dodd to replace Fried on the roster.
Fried, who pitched a scoreless inning for the National League in the All-Star Game, experienced forearm discomfort before his All-Star appearance but wasn’t concerned until it persisted upon his return to Truist Park on July 19. An MRI revealed nerve irritation but no soft-tissue damage.
“Before the All-Star Game, I felt something during warmups but didn’t think much of it,” Fried said. “Discomfort often passes. I didn’t feel at risk of serious injury. I felt good enough to pitch. After returning home, the discomfort lingered, so I got tested. Everything structurally looks good. It’s just a sensory nerve irritation. Hopefully, I’ll be back soon.”
Fried is 7-5 with a 3.08 ERA in 108 innings this season, with 95 strikeouts and 34 walks. In his last start, he allowed one run in six innings against the D-backs but took a 1-0 loss.
Fried, who has never experienced this type of injury, described the sensation in his forearm as a slight burning, indicative of minor nerve discomfort. He remains optimistic about a short IL stint.
“Everything suggests the IL stint will be brief,” Fried said. “I’m not expecting a long absence.”
Fried, set to become a free agent after the 2024 season, has a 69-31 record with a 3.04 career ERA in 157 games (140 starts), all for Atlanta.
The Braves currently have 11 players on the IL, including four on the 60-day IL.
“It’s overwhelming at times,” Snitker said. “Depth helps, but it’s challenging.”
“It’s tough,” d’Arnaud said. “No one wants this to happen, but you prepare for it. The next player steps up. We’re still 10 games over .500 with 60 games left. Anything can happen. I’ve seen crazier things.”
Leave a Reply