Max Fried waited a little longer to make his spring training debut, but it went swimmingly.
Fried pitched four innings, allowing one run on three hits in the Braves’ 5-3 loss to the Red Sox. Fried, who struck out three and didn’t issue a walk, retired the final eight hitters he faced. He threw 51 pitches, including first-pitch strikes to 12 of 15 hitters.
“I (want to focus on) attacking hitters, going after them,” Fried said. “For me, my first couple spring training starts, I’m normally trying to shy away from contact and trying to miss bats. Today, I wanted to attack hitters early, get some early contact and get the guys working behind me.”
Fried’s debut was slightly delayed after he was potentially exposed to COVID-19 late last week. He cleared protocols over the weekend and ended up starting five days later than scheduled, which won’t affect his status for the first week of the regular season.
Rafael Devers’ two-out RBI double in the first inning was the only damage against Fried. He allowed only one other base runner - Christian Vazquez doubled - for the remainder of the outing. His pitch count was low enough after the third frame that he and the Braves decided he could pitch the fourth. He retired the side 1-2-3 with a pair of ground outs and a fly out.
“The pitch count was good, and I felt like I was able to get up for another one,” Fried said. “The last two innings were pretty efficient. I’m not complaining about (going four innings). Anytime you can go out there and have some good ones, especially to start you off on the right foot, you’re definitely into that.”
It was a nice tune-up for Fried, who’s hoping to build off his breakout 2020 campaign. Fried posted a 2.25 ERA in 11 starts, emerging as an ace-caliber pitcher. He finished fifth in Cy Young voting and pitched well in the postseason, when the Braves won three of his four starts.
Fried will have at least three more starts before the regular season begins April 1. He’s a candidate to start opening day in Philadelphia.
“I thought he looked really good,” manager Brian Snitker said of Fried’s day. “It was pretty good for his first time out.”
Notes from Wednesday:
- “We’re extremely good. We’re extremely talented. We’re young but we’re hungry,” Fried said, describing the Braves’ rotation. The group actually is a mix of young and old: Charlie Morton is the oldest at 37, followed by fellow newcomer Drew Smyly at 31. Both signed one-year deals last winter. Fried, as hard as it may be to believe, is 27. Mike Soroka won’t turn 24 until August, while Ian Anderson turns 23 in early May.
The rotation depth is all young. Kyle Wright is 25. Bryse Wilson is 23. Huascar Ynoa is 22. Perhaps one (or more) takes a step forward this season, which would help the Braves’ 2022 rotation outlook.
- Two relievers competing for spots had tough days. Carl Edwards, a non-roster invitee with a notable resume, issued three two-out walks in his only inning. He did get out of it, retiring J.D. Martinez on a grounder, but the walks won’t help his roster bid.
Victor Arano, formerly of the Phillies, struggled in the sixth inning. He walked two and allowed three hits, including a grand slam to Bobby Dalbec. Arano already was a long shot to crack the bullpen, and he didn’t help his case Wednesday.
- Utilityman Travis Demeritte had a two-RBI single in the second inning. Demeritte won’t be on the opening-day roster, but he could see time in the majors later this season. He can handle multiple positions while providing the bench with power, so he holds some appeal.
- Kyle Wright will make his third start Thursday against the Rays. Wright pitched three scoreless frames in his most recent outing, against Minnesota. The right-hander is among the leading candidates for the potentially open rotation spot, depending on how the team proceeds with Soroka, who’s returning from a torn Achilles.
