Braves get dose of bad news on Max Fried as ace nears return

In the latest news on Max Fried, the Braves give an unfortunate update on Fried’s health and impending return.

The Atlanta Braves were getting such good news on Max Fried throughout his return from injury that they were bound to hit a snag one way or another.

On Wednesday, the Braves revealed a minor issue regarding Fried’s Triple-A start: The ace was under the weather. He caught a cold.

Considering the wide array of other calamities that could have befallen Fried and the Braves, fans should take this as a cautious win. Fried doesn’t appear to have suffered a setback with his physical rehab; the pitcher has been out since May with a forearm strain, and prior to that, he spent some time on the IL due to a hamstring issue.

His reason for sitting out of his Gwinnett start seems unrelated to his past nicks and solely due to a bad immune system.

Wednesday night’s rehab start in Gwinnett was supposed to mark Fried’s fourth and last stint in the minors. Atlanta will reschedule a new start for him, which means Fried’s impending return to the Braves could be delayed ever so slightly.

Braves ace Max Fried catches cold, delays rehab start

In 2023, Fried has a 2.08 ERA in 26 innings, and the Braves have been waiting patiently for him to rejoin the starting lineup.

This isn’t the first time Fried called out sick to work, so to speak. Last year, facing the Phillies in the NL Division Series, Fried was suffering from a flu that caused him to lose a significant amount of weight. Fried only played 3.1 innings in Game 1 of the series, a 7-6 loss, and Philadelphia would go on to sweep the Braves.

What is it with Fried’s immune system getting compromised at the least opportune times? Maybe the Braves star pitcher just needs a little more Vitamin D, fruits, and vegetables — all of that good stuff. If Fried can return in time for the playoffs, stay healthy for the entire stretch, and win another World Series, his illnesses will be a mere reminder of the past.