Max Fried cleared, will pitch this coming week

Braves pitcher Max Fried prepares to deliver a pitch during training Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, at the team's facility in North Port, Fla.

Credit: Atlanta Braves

Credit: Atlanta Braves

Braves pitcher Max Fried prepares to deliver a pitch during training Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, at the team's facility in North Port, Fla.

Braves starter Max Fried cleared COVID-19 protocols and will rejoin the team for workouts Sunday, manager Brian Snitker said. Fried was out a few days after “potential exposure” to COVID-19. He did not test positive, the Braves said.

“He cleared everything, and we’ll get him back in action tomorrow,” Snitker said Saturday. “It won’t be long (before he pitches). He hasn’t been out long, so we want to get him out as soon as we can.”

Fried was scheduled to make his spring debut Friday. Kyle Wright started in his place. Fried will make his first start sometime in the coming week, Snitker said. His status for the regular season was unaffected.

The 27-year-old is coming off a career year in which he went 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA. Fried finished fifth in Cy Young voting. He potentially could make his first opening-day start April 1 in Philadelphia.