SE Atlanta News

ARLINGTON -- One year after sending six position players to the All-Star Game, the Braves will have three starting pitchers representing them at this year’s Midsummer Classic. Max Fried replaced the Phillies’ Ranger Suárez on the National League roster on Saturday. Fried will join designated hitter Marcell Ozuna and fellow starters Chris Sale and Reynaldo López as the Braves’ representatives for the All-Star Game.

This is Fried’s second All-Star selection and first since 2022. The Braves left-hander struggled during the first inning of both of this season’s first two starts, but he has posted a 2.36 ERA over the 16 starts that have followed.

"I was definitely surprised; I wasn't expecting it," Fried said. "It's pretty exciting."

Fried was so surprised that he was taken aback when he woke up in San Diego to two missed calls from Alex Anthopoulos, the Braves' president of baseball operations. Anthopoulos generally follows with a text if his call isn't answered. Two straight calls were a hint something unusual was afoot.

"Seemed to be something pretty urgent," Fried said. "Figured I probably should get up and give him a call back. It was definitely a pleasant surprise."

Sale ranks second among NL starters with a 2.74 ERA and Fried ranks seventh with a 3.08 ERA. López’s 1.71 ERA would lead the Majors if he had completed enough innings to qualify. He will qualify as long as he completes 3 1/3 innings during Saturday night’s start in San Diego.

Sale will be unavailable to pitch on Tuesday because he is starting against the Padres on Sunday, but Fried should be available to be in the mix at some point after Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes ends his much-hyped first All-Star Game start.

Fried did not get in the game in 2022 when it was held in his hometown of Los Angeles.

"To be able to have the opportunity to potentially pitch, it's exciting," Fried said. "It's a cool feat. I'm looking forward to the festivities."

This is the first time the Braves have had three starting pitchers at the All-Star Game since Greg Maddux, Denny Neagle, and Tom Glavine represented them in 1997. It’s also their first time having three pitchers selected since Jair Jurrjens, Jonny Venters, and Craig Kimbrel were chosen in 2011.

"What Chris and Reynaldo have been able to do this year, it's extremely impressive," Fried said. "It's fun to watch them take the ball every fifth day. I'm excited to experience All-Star Week with them."

The All-Star trio has held together a rotation that lost 2023 All-Star Spencer Strider after two starts this season. The Braves have auditioned multiple prospects at the bottom of their rotation but still entered Saturday ninth in MLB with a 3.67 ERA from their starters.

"They've kept us in games," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "Our offense isn't what it was last year. It happens. If it wasn't for those guys and the bullpen --the entire staff-- they're making it possible for us to try to get our sea legs with offense and help us win games."

MLB.com reporter/producer Shaun O'Neill contributed to this report from San Diego.

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