The Atlanta Braves hope Max Fried has a fantastic 2024 Major League Baseball season, especially after Spencer Strider suffered a season-ending elbow injury that required surgery. In his fifth pitching start this year, the eight-year veteran delivered on what they expect from him.

Pitching against the Miami Marlins on April 23, Fried completed a “Maddux” shutout with 92 pitches in nine innings. Fried threw 69 strikes, gave up only three hits, and struck out six batters in nine innings.

This impressive performance is a breakthrough for the three-time Gold Glove Award recipient because he surrendered 13 earned runs in 16.1 innings over his first four starts. He gave up seven earned runs in 4.1 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 6 and three earned runs in their April 17 game against the Houston Astros.

Fried’s shutout of the Marlins improved his record to 2-0. On April 12, he earned his first victory in 2024 against the Marlins, giving up four hits and one run in 6.1 innings.

Max Fried became the first starter in the Braves pitching rotation after Strider was placed on the 15-day injury list. He has a 64-26 career record with the Braves from 2017. He’s had three seasons with at least 14 victories and finished 8-1 in 14 starts last season.

-Lance Fernandez