ATLANTA — After defeating flamethrower Spencer Strider in Game 1 of the NLDS, the Phillies will have a completely different kind of starting pitcher in Max Fried for Game 2.
And all eyes will be on his left index finger.
Fried missed the final two starts of the regular season due to blisters, an issue he had dealt with earlier in his minor league and major league career. He said he was activated from the disabled list on Saturday when the Phillies and Braves began the division series and has recovered.
“It’s kind of a story that I’ve had throughout my major league career, something that I’ve had to monitor and deal with and continue to fight through,” he said over the weekend.
“Right now, as far as how it looks and feels, I feel like my finger has healed and is back to normal.”
In order to prepare for the divisional round, the Braves played a red-and-white game during a long layoff. That didn’t seem to help their offense, and in Game 1 they were shut out at home for the first time in over two years.
Fried participated in Tuesday’s Red and White game and threw 76 pitches in five innings. He’ll be ready for Monday night, but if the blister worsens or ruptures, his start could be cut short to the Phillies’ advantage.
“There’s always concern about that,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “But everything went well against the Reds and Whites. He got up and pitched, which we needed. His fingers were really good. So as far as we’re concerned, he’s You can go.”
Strider’s fastball averages 98 mph, but Fried is a lefty with command and movement that averages over 93-94 mph and can read swings and make adjustments on the fly.
Fried has been one of the National League’s top starters for the past four seasons, starting 83 games and posting a 43-15 record with a 2.66 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. He faced the Phillies 10 times during the regular season, posting a 2.78 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 55 innings. He has allowed only four home runs.
One of his worst starts against the Phillies was in Game 1 of the 2022 National League, when he couldn’t pitch the entire fourth inning and allowed eight hits and six runs (four earned runs). . But like Strider, Fried wasn’t completely healthy last October. He dealt with a stomach problem heading into his NLDS, an issue that turned from a viral infection to a bacterial infection.
“So, obviously not in the most ideal situation, not fully healthy and missed a little bit of time heading into the playoffs, but physically, my body and the way I’m feeling, this year and last year, it’s been day and night. It’s different at night,”’ Freed said.
“I think I’ve played against this Phillies team more than anyone else in my career. They know what I have and I know what they have. There are no secrets. I’m just going to do my best and execute and throw the pitches that I need to make.’ And just the guys that performed the best that day.
“I know they’re not going to give me anything. They’re very disciplined. They’re great hitters and they play good baseball, especially when it matters most and they have to win. “If they need to go for the long ball, they can do that. They’re very versatile and you’ve got to bring your best game to get through that.” Change your lineup and give your team a chance to win. ”
The Phillies will counter with ace Zach Wheeler, who has started seven playoff games over the past 12 months and posted a 2.55 ERA.
The Braves tied a major league record with 307 home runs this season and set a team record with a .501 slugging average, but Wheeler pitched better than anyone against the Braves in 2023. He pitched eight scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts in Atlanta over Memorial Day weekend. He held the Braves to one run in six innings against Trust Park on September 18th. During that time, the Braves were hit with three home runs. In Wheeler’s three starts, the Braves had 13 hits in 70 at bats for a .186 batting average.
Wheeler, a native of nearby Smyrna, has always pitched well against his hometown team with a 3.18 ERA in 27 career starts.
“They know what I’m going to do to them and I know what they’re going to do to me,” he said Saturday. “It’s like a game of cat and mouse, especially when you play against people over and over again. And when you play against really good people, you always have to play cat and mouse, but don’t try to outdo yourself. .At the same time, show off your strengths and stop doing it.
“It’s great to come back here every year, but especially in the playoffs and big moments, there’s a lot of people coming to watch. So it’s definitely going to be fun to pitch here in front of your friends and family. , I hope we can win.” ”
The first pitch for Game 2 will be held on Monday at 6:07pm on TBS.
