SE Atlanta News

Mark Bowman

NEW YORK -- Top Cy Young Award candidate Spencer Strider made one healthy start before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery. As a result, the Braves might have three starting pitchers at this year’s All-Star Game instead of four.

Max Fried strengthened his candidacy by allowing just one run over six innings, guiding the Braves to a 3-1 win over the Yankees on Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. He now stands with rotation mates Chris Sale and Reynaldo López as legitimate All-Star candidates.

“I have no idea how the All-Star thing is going to shake out,” Fried said. “But I know we have a lot of deserving guys that I hope make it to [Arlington].”

The Braves validated their recent success by taking two of three from the Yankees, who boast the AL’s best winning percentage. Atlanta has won eight of ten since suffering a season-high fifth straight loss on June 12.

“We’re playing more to our capabilities, but quite honestly, I still don’t think we’re hitting on all cylinders,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

Much of this recent success can be attributed to the offense ending its long slumber. Jarred Kelenic continued his strong performance by homering with two outs in Sunday’s third inning. Orlando Arcia also contributed with a double that keyed a two-run fifth against Yankees starter Nestor Cortes.

All of this was sufficient for Fried, who kept the Yankees scoreless until Anthony Volpe doubled home Trent Grisham in the sixth. The Braves left-hander ranks ninth among all qualified NL pitchers with a 3.00 ERA.

“Max is definitely one of the best pitchers in the game right now,” Kelenic said.

Fried has been consistent since allowing ten earned runs over his first two innings pitched this year. Excluding those innings against the Phillies on March 30 and against the D-backs on April 6, he would have a 2.14 ERA over 88 1/3 innings.

“It was kind of like a freak thing,” Snitker said. “He’s turned it around and he’s back to his old self again. He’s been really, really good.”

Even with those two difficult innings, Fried has credentials that could earn him an All-Star selection when teams are announced on July 7.

Ranger Suárez currently leads the NL with a 1.75 ERA and stands alongside fellow Phillies starters Cristopher Sánchez and Zack Wheeler as likely All-Stars. Dodgers’ Tyler Glasnow and Cardinals’ Sonny Gray are also strong candidates.

Cubs starters Javier Assad and Shota Imanaga rank among the top ten in ERA but have had some shaky starts recently which could improve Fried's chances further.

Looking only at Atlanta’s candidates, López’s 1.57 ERA would lead MLB if he had enough innings to qualify—one inning per team game played is required for qualification. The Braves have played 75 games and López has tallied 74 1/3 innings; he is slated to start again on Tuesday during their 77th game, needing five innings to qualify among league leaders for at least a day.

Sale has constructed an impressive comeback story this year, pitching like he did five years ago before injuries derailed his career path towards Cooperstown. The left-hander ranks seventh among NL pitchers with a 2.91 ERA and maintains a strikeout rate above thirty percent along with Gray, Glasnow, and Jack Flaherty—all having sub-3 ERAs.

“And if you’re into wins,” Sale noted that both he and Suárez are tied for MLB lead with ten victories each.

“These guys are throwing so well,” Fried said.” You just want to be able to do your part."

The Braves sent six position players to last year’s All-Star Game; Marcell Ozuna might be their sole hitter at this year's Midsummer Classic while their rotation looks poised for representation.

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