Atlanta Braves Ace Pitcher Heads To IL With Ominous Arm Trouble

The Atlanta Braves "don't believe (he) needs Tommy John surgery." That sounds like a frightening thing to say about your ace pitcher. Even if it's in the negative. But that's what the Braves are thinking right now as All-Star starter Max Fried has been placed on the injured list with a forearm strain. 

Fried's MRI didn't create any concern about possibly needing a second TJ surgery. He will be shut down from throwing until his forearm heals. He'll then have to build back up and basically go through Spring Training again. So, timetable is TBD. But this won't be a short-term IL

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) May 9, 2023

As noted by Braves beat writer Mark Bowman, this will NOT be a short-term IL stint. Fried will be "shut down from throwing until his forearm heals." No timeline has been given for his return. 

Fried had Tommy John surgery back in 2014 while still in the minors. 

The signs were there during the pitcher's last start that something must be wrong. He hadn't allowed more than two earned runs in 14 consecutive regular season starts—until his last outing against Baltimore, when he surrendered seven runs, five earned, on eight hits in six innings.

Overall, on the season, Fried has a 2.08 ERA with a 25:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 26 innings. He was an All-Star in 2022 when he went 14-7 with a 2.48 ERA, and finished second in Cy Young balloting.

With Kyle Wright also on the injured list, the Braves are down two key starters, though they still have a healthy 7.0 game lead on the pack in the National League East Division.

Photo: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports