Jul 11, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried (54) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports Although things have not gone the Atlanta Braves’ way lately, manager Brian Snitker found something positive about the weekend series against the Colorado Rockies in Denver.
“It seems like it’s always four days (here),” Snitker said. “(I) kind of like having only three (games).”
Atlanta’s slump continued with a 6-5 loss to the Rockies in the Friday series opener. It was the Braves’ sixth defeat in a row, matching their season-worst skid.
On Saturday, Braves left-hander Max Fried (7-6, 3.40 ERA) will get the start. The Rockies are expected to recall Dakota Hudson (2-12, 5.84 ERA) from Triple-A Albuquerque for his first major league outing in more than a month.
Fried will be making his second start since coming off the injured list last week after recovering from a forearm ailment. On Sunday against the Miami Marlins, he allowed five runs and tied a career high with five walks in 3 1/3 innings.
“Physically, I felt good,” Fried said after the 7-0 home loss. “I was just out of rhythm. I wasn’t able to make that adjustment when I needed.”
That has been a common theme for the Braves, who are trying to remain positive despite dropping out of an NL wild-card spot.
“Man, it’s tough to describe because it’s a performance-based job,” said Jarred Kelenic, who had three hits on Friday and represented the potential tying run at third when the game ended. “As a team when we can’t come out and produce and win games, it’s frustrating.
“I do know that everybody (in the clubhouse) understands what we can and can’t control except flushing this one and showing up (Saturday).”
Fried can help with a bounce-back performance in Denver, where he is 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA in three games (two starts).
In five career games (four starts) against Colorado, Fried is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA.
Fried is coming off one rough start, but Hudson had a string of tough outings that resulted in the Rockies designating him for assignment on July 7. He wasn’t claimed, so he reported to Albuquerque four days later and went 1-2 with a 9.53 ERA in three Triple-A starts.
Injuries to the staff — German Marquez was shut down for the season this week, Ryan Feltner landed on the injured list and Peter Lambert is nursing a bruised thumb — have left Colorado with few options. That opened the door for Hudson’s return to a venue that has given him fits this season.
In nine home starts in 2024, Hudson is 0-6 with an 8.26 ERA.
“With Dakota, it was uneven,” manager Bud Black said of the decision to designate him for assignment last month. “The walks were troublesome as the season unfolded. It was just the collection of all of his starts and not so much Coors Field.”
Hudson has faced Atlanta four times in his career, including three starts, going 1-1 with a 7.41 ERA.
–Field Level Media
