The Atlanta Braves have been without Max Fried since early May but the latest update on his recovery has him much closer to getting back on the bump.
With the best record in the National League by 4.5 games and the second-best record in all of baseball, the Atlanta Braves don't have a dire need to rush their ace, Max Fried, back to the big-league roster. They've pieced together the rotation in his and Kyle Wright's absence well.
Having said that, Fried returning to the Braves would be a massive boost for the club that could potentially make their 6.5-game lead in the NL East ultimately insurmountable given the level of baseball they're already playing.
Even still, Max Fried's return from his early-May hamstring injury is getting tantalizingly closer.
While much of the discussion at the end of June has been about Michael Soroka's potential return to the majors after hitting his stride with Triple-A Gwinnett, there was also a key update on Fried's recovery. As reported by Jeff Schultz of The Athletic, Fried is throwing his third bullpen session on the night of June 27. If all goes well, facing live batters should be up next.
Braves News: Max Fried one step away from facing live batters again
Once Fried gets on the hill against live batters, the Braves ace would begin his rehab assignments soon after.
Again, Atlanta isn't in any rush when it comes to Fried. They've proven that to this point with the success they've had but, more importantly, with the southpaw being a key cog for the future — assuming they can work out a looming extension — and specifically the next two seasons when they have World Series aspirations, his long-term health is the most important factor.
With that said, the rotation going from Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton, Bryce Elder, Jared Shuster, revolving door to Fried, Strider, Morton, Elder, Shuster/Soroka would be a massive boost to the pitching staff. Moreover, Fried's return will also help bolster the bullpen potentially by allowing AJ Smith-Shawver or others to have more of a role as a reliever.
In any case, this latest step in the recovery of Max Fried is a big one as he's now just about a step-and-a-half away from a rehab outing, which is the precursor to a return. Seeing him around the All-Star break would not be an outlandish expectation for Braves fans ready to get their ace back on the mound.
