Max Fried, the star pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, has made a swift return from the injured list, just 14 days after being sidelined with forearm neuritis. The team announced his activation ahead of Sunday’s game against the Miami Marlins, marking a significant recovery given that similar injuries have sidelined others for far longer periods.
Fried’s rapid return, only 17 days including backdating, brings relief to the Braves. However, it forced the team into another difficult decision due to roster constraints, leading them to option Dylan Lee to Triple-A Gwinnett despite his stellar performance this season.
Atlanta’s pitching lineup has faced inflexibility problems throughout the season. Before Fried’s reinstatement, of the team’s 13 pitchers in the main roster, only Spencer Schwellenbach and Dylan Lee had remaining options.
This lack of flexibility has repeatedly placed Lee in a tough spot. He was previously sent down to accommodate Bryce Elder, only to return shortly after.
This year, Lee has been excellent, posting a 2.00 ERA over 46.1 innings with a 26.9% strikeout rate and a strong 3.08 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) statistic. Despite such impressive numbers, he found himself the odd man out again due mostly to roster management strategy and the recent acquisition of Luke Jackson from the Giants, further limiting Braves’ bullpen options.
Another potential roster move could have been placing Reynaldo Lopez on the IL due to recent forearm soreness, but the team expects him to start next week. This limitation on backdating IL stints added an extra layer of complexity to the Braves’ decision-making process.
As Fried takes the mound against the Marlins, Atlanta navigates the ongoing challenge of managing a talented but rigidly structured pitching staff, while Lee awaits another chance to prove his value from the minors.
