Braves Announce Costly Injury in Pitching Rotation

The Atlanta Braves recalled left-hander Dylan Dodd on Sunday after placing starter Max Fried on the 15-day injured list.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried / Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Braves are dealing with yet another injury.

The team announced on its official X (formerly Twitter) account that they placed left-handed starter Max Fried on the injury list Sunday. Fried's placement on the IL will be retroactive to July 18.

Fried is dealing with left forearm neuritis, which is inflammation of a nerve in his forearm. The most common nerve for a pitcher to injury in his forearm is the ulnar nerve, but the Braves didn't specify which nerve in Fried's pitching forearm is causing the issue.

"The Braves today recalled LHP Dylan Dodd to Atlanta and placed LHP Max Friend on the 15-day injured list, backdated to July 18, with left forearm neuritis," wrote the Braves official X account.

The #Braves today recalled LHP Dylan Dodd to Atlanta and placed LHP Max Fried on the 15-day injured list, backdated to July 18, with left forearm neuritis.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 21, 2024

The Athletic's David O'Brien also called Fried's injury "left forearm neuritis" but added that he will be providing updates.

"SIGNIFICANT News: The Braves put Max Fried on the 15-day injured list with left forearm neuritis," wrote O'Brien.

SIGNIFICANT NEWS: The #Braves put Max Fried on the 15-day injured list with left forearm neuritis, backdated to July 18, and recalled LHP Dylan Dodd to Atlanta.

More to come

— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) July 21, 2024

An injury to one of the team's top three starting pitchers was one of the last things the Braves needed to begin the second half of the season. The Braves offense has been inconsistent this season, but Atlanta holds the top National League wild card spot because of its starting pitching.

Starters Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez and Fried all made the NL All-Star team. Together, they have helped the Braves post the best ERA in the MLB this season despite the fact the team lost ace pitcher Spencer Strider during the first week of the season.

Fried owns a 7-5 record with a 3.08 ERA and 1.157 WHIP over 18 starts during 2024. He leads the NL with 2 complete games and 1 shutout.

He's second in innings pitched and third in strikeouts for the Braves.

Fried gave up 1 run on 5 hits and 3 walks with 7 strikeouts over 6 innings during his last start on July 11. But he took the loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks, as the Braves fell 1-0.

The last time Fried took the mound in a game, though, was the MLB All-Star Game on July 16. He faced 4 batters, allowing just 1 walk, in 1 inning.

With Fried sidelined, the Braves could explore acquiring another starting pitcher before MLB's trade deadline on July 30.