Braves lefty Max Fried feels fully healthy a day before he’s set to return from the injured list and start against the Phillies.
Fried was been sidelined since leaving a July 15 start with a blister. The Braves placed him in the 10-day IL and breathed a sigh of relief knowing he’d likely only miss one start.
“We caught it at a good time,” Fried said Friday afternoon. “It was a little sensitive in the beginning, but we just wanted to knock it out. So far, I’ve had zero problems. I’ve felt normal throwing.”
Fried originally was to start Sunday, but the Braves felt it would be better for him to avoid the heat and humidity of an afternoon game, so he was rescheduled for Saturday night.
“Anytime it gets a little too hot or I get overheated, I can be susceptible to (blisters),” Fried said. “But they came to me with it and thought it was a good idea, so that was reason for the change.”
While undergoing treatment, Fried tried to keep his hand as dry as possible. He wants to toughen his skin up and create more of a callus.
Blisters have tainted his career thus far, and as a result he hasn’t become a consistent presence on the major league roster until this season. The recurring blisters further cloud the picture of an uncertain rotation, where the Braves cannot assume Fried is fully over the issue until there’s evidence.
The 25-year-old also is hoping the brief break will be good for his arm. Fried has already surpassed a career high in innings during his first full season as a starter, and the Braves will be well-aware aware of his and Mike Soroka’s workload later in the season.
