Max Fried ended his breakthrough
2019 season with an unceremonious relief appearance in Game 5 of the National
League Division Series, in which his high school buddy, Jack Flaherty, helped
the Cardinals advance past the Braves.
As Fried
spent the past few months working out with Flaherty, St. Louis’ ace, he gained
confidence in his own ability to establish himself among the game’s elite
starters. The Braves lefty took another step toward that status as he posted
zeroes through the first six innings of a 2-1 win over the Rays on Thursday
night at Truist Park.
“Every
night he goes out there, I feel like there’s a potential for him to throw eight
or nine [scoreless] innings,” Braves closer Mark Melancon said. “He’s had his
ups and downs. … The last couple of years, he’s been the guy you count on in
big situations. It’s been fun to watch him mature.”
Fried has
frequently been a part of some special groups. Before he was taken by the
Padres with the seventh overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, his teammates at
Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles included Flaherty and White Sox All-Star
pitcher Lucas Giolito.
Now, the
26-year-old Fried finds himself fronting a rotation with Mike Soroka, who
produced the NL’s third-best ERA during last year’s stellar rookie season.
These two young hurlers will significantly impact the Braves, who have
uncertainty at each of the rotation’s other three spots.
“[Max]
quietly had some kind of year last year,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.
“There was a lot of attention given to Mike [Soroka], but when you go back and
look at Max’s year, it was pretty special, too. That’s a pretty good feeling
for an organization to have two young guys of that caliber.”
Against the
Rays, Fried retired the first 14 batters he faced, recorded seven strikeouts
and allowed just three hits over 6 2/3 innings. The lone run charged to his
line was scored by Willy Adames, who hit a double with two outs in the seventh
and raced home on Ji-Man Choi’s single off Luke Jackson.
“He’s just
growing as a pitcher,” Snitker said. “It was efficient. His stuff was good. You
could tell he was really locked in and pretty focused. It was pretty fun to sit
and watch him.”
Fried needed just 38 pitches to complete the first four innings
in perfect fashion, and he kept the Rays off the bases until Mike Brosseau
knocked a single up the middle with two outs in the fifth. The Atlanta southpaw
promptly retired Brosseau with a quick pickoff at first base.
Of the 14
balls the Rays put in play against Fried, just three had an exit velocity above
95 mph, which is the benchmark for a hard-hit ball per Statcast.
“He
was aggressive,” Adames said. “He was throwing a lot of strikes. We just let
him get that confidence. He was mixing pitches really well. I thought his
offspeed was amazing today and his pitch count was not a big thing for him. He
had a pretty good game, and we couldn’t attack him and try to take him out of
the game early.”
Fried has
allowed three earned runs through his first 11 innings (two starts) this year,
and opponents have hit just .132 (5-for-38) against him. He led all NL
left-handers with 17 wins last year, but he stumbled down the stretch of his
first full season and was moved to the bullpen for the postseason.
After
making strong relief appearances in Games 1 and 2, he was unexpectedly called
upon after the Cardinals had chased Mike Foltynewicz in the 10-run first that
decided Game 5.
Nearly 10
months after seeing Flaherty shine for the Cardinals in that clincher, Fried is
determined to produce a much more memorable conclusion to this season.
“I think
any time you end the season with a bad taste in your mouth, it gives you a
little extra motivation,” Fried said. “The last couple of offseasons have been
about working and refining my delivery. I’m always eager to learn and eager to
get better.”
