Braves shouldn’t hit panic button on rotation just yet

Braves fans were devastated when Max Fried was placed on the Injured List, but things aren’t as bad as they seem. 

Where has the luck been for the Atlanta Braves and their starting rotation this season? Things have really gone from bad to worse, with a new low point coming on Tuesday.

The team announced that star pitcher Max Fried, who is in the middle of an incredible 2020 campaign, has been placed on the Injured List with a back injury. Fried joins a long list of Atlanta players who has been shelved at some point this campaign.

While Braves fans out there may be a bit down in the dumps, the good news is that Fried is expected to get back on the bump much sooner than later.

Max Fried’s back injury isn’t a serious one and he won’t miss significant time

That’s got to be a monster sigh of relief for the Braves knowing that Fried should be back in no time. Thus far this season, the talented lefty has been dominant. Fried is 6-0 this campaign with a remarkable 1.98 ERA.

He took a no decision in Saturday’s game against the Nats, tossing five innings and allowing three runs off five hits. That was considered a down game for him, which goes to show how great he’s been.

Losing him to the IL, albeit for a short amount of time, still stings for Atlanta. This season, the rotation has taken plenty of hits, of course including seeing Mike Soroka tear his right Achilles tendon in early August.

Despite that, Fried has been superb and Ian Anderson is 2-0 in his first three starts this campaign, surely living up to his hype. Cole Hamels appears to be nearing a return this month, and trade deadline Tommy Milone threw four solid innings in his second start in Atlanta. A real rotation could finally be forming at the right time.

With the Braves at the top of the NL East standings, they’ll need Fried back as soon as possible. Luckily for skipper Brian Snitker, it won’t be too long before that happens.