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Atlanta Braves: Stunning revelation about Max Fried heading into NLDS

By Kevin Henry

Oct 11, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried (54) sits in the dugout after being pulled against the Philadelphia Phillies in the fourth inning during game one of the NLDS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried (54) sits in the dugout after being pulled against the Philadelphia Phillies in the fourth inning during game one of the NLDS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried finished second in the National League Cy Young Award balloting after an incredible regular season. However, on the same day the Cy Young voting results were announced, some stunning news came out about Fried and his condition heading into his lone postseason start against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Max Fried lost 15 pounds between his last regular-season start for the Atlanta Braves and the postseason

Fried was caught on camera throwing up in the Atlanta Braves dugout following his September 30 start against the New York Mets. Despite being ill, Fried retired the final 10 batters he faced as part of a five-inning performance where he scattered four hits and allowed just one run.

In an interview, Atlanta pitching coach Rick Kranitz explained that that “prolonged illness” carried over into Atlanta’s final series of the year in Miami as Fried returned to Atlanta and wasn’t with the team as they celebrated winning the National League East title. While Fried tried to brush off the flu as an excuse following his NLDS Game 1 outing against the Phillies where he gave up eight hits and six runs (four earned) in 3.1 innings, Kranitz certainly didn’t hold back about how the illness affected the 28-year-old southpaw down the stretch.

At the 1:58 mark below, you can hear the beginning of the portion of the interview where Kranitz explains Fried’s illness and its impact.

Fried finished the regular season with a 2.48 ERA/2.70 FIP/1.014 WHIP in 30 starts covering 185.1 innings. He gave up five earned runs on Opening Day against Cincinnati, just one of three times in the regular season when he surrendered four earned runs or more in a start, with the last of those outliers coming on June 14.

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The 3.1 innings logged against the Phillies in the NLDS was Fried’s shortest outing of the year (and shortest since April of 2021). Knowing he had lost so much weight and battled illness for so long, perhaps it’s no surprise why he was largely ineffective against Philadelphia.

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