Is Max Fried playing tonight? Latest injury update for Braves vs Padres

Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried has missed the last few weeks on the injured list. When will he make his return?

Max Fried is scheduled to come off the injured list any day now, with Braves insiders insisting he will pitch on Monday against the San Diego Padres.

Atlanta has lucked out with a fairly easy stretch of games without Fried, who is their unquestioned ace. Fried, an NL Cy Young candidate entering the season, could very well be on a pitch count in his first start back from the IL.

“You have to use common sense and see, and take it inning to inning,” Brian Snitker said. “We’ll watch for stressful innings, things like that.”

That ‘common sense’, as Snitker put it, will likely keep Fried under 100 pitches in his first start back.

Is Max Fried playing tonight for Braves?

While the Braves didn’t make an official move before 1 p.m. ET, Fried is expected to be activated off the injured list by game time. It’s unknown at this time who will be sent down to make room on the active roster.

With Fried and Kyle Wright back from the respective injured list stints, Atlanta’s rotation looks as good as ever. Pitching was supposed to be a strength for the Braves heading into the season, and it’s easy to see why when Spencer Strider is arguably the third or fourth-best starting pitcher on the roster. Strider would be an ace for most staffs across the league.

Fried left Atlanta’s Opening Day start with a strained hamstring, and was placed on the injured list shortly thereafter. Perhaps as a precaution, the Braves gave him as much time as needed to recover, considering we’re in the early stages of the season.

Atlanta went 12-4 without Fried. That’s a scary thought.