Braves Game Report: Max Fried (8/26/20)
When Ian Anderson’s debut was pushed back to Wednesday as Game 1 of a doubleheader, and Max Fried was set to pitch Game 2, I thought it would be fun to evaluate both starters based on their outings. You can find the Anderson game report here.
Today, I give you my Fried report. I didn’t pick a great start to do this, because Fried didn’t have his best stuff. His past two starts have now been like that, perhaps the result of fatigue after throwing 103 pitches in the start before that against the Marlins. But No. 1 starters know how to be effective without their best stuff, and Fried continues to show No. 1 traits every five days. He gave up one run on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts in six innings against the Yankees.
FB: 60
92-96. Plus life up in the zone. Worked quadrants and changed eye levels effectively. Above-average command. Has shown plus command. Has been a 70 pitch at times with elite velo and life from left side. Excellent feel to glove side with plus bore on RH hitters’ hands. Strong natural cut when located in. Struggled spotting arm side. Works up and in but gets ground balls and weak contact because of pitch’s late jump.
SL: 55
Solid-average command. Solid-average bite and three-quarters tilt. Lacked explosiveness seen in previous outings but remained effective glove side. True plus pitch when thrown with big bite, which it usually is. Weapon secondary that tunnels off the fastball and bites hard and late.
CB: 70
Above-average command. Plus-plus depth and 12/6 action. One of the best curves in the league. Typically shows plus command and consistently plus-plus depth and 12/6 break. Almost impossible to barrel up when thrown for a strike. He has more than enough feel to consistently spin it into the zone and force hitters into weak contact or a strike.
CH: 40
Below-average command. Fringe-average fade. Solid-average arm speed. He didn’t have good feel for the pitch in this outing, mostly missing arm side. It has shown average ability in previous outings and has been a strong fourth pitch to keep hitters honest. Arm speed helps sell it when he’s throwing it for a strike.
Delivery/mound presence:
Plus-plus makeup and competitor. Nasty streak on mound. Goes after hitters and attacks the zone. Excellent tempo that never wavers. Gives it his all regardless of how he feels that day. Ace-type mentality. Repeats high three-quarters slot that he gets to late with plus arm speed and above-average deception. Falls off hard to third base side but works it in his favor to gain the inside corner and create angle against RHB. Opening so much makes it difficult to consistently hit the arm side, but he finds the corner enough to keep hitters from living on one half of the plate.
Comments:
I didn’t have Fried on his best day. He has previously shown a 70 and two 60s. What this outing and report says is that the left-hander is capable of still having at least three strong major league pitches and above-average command even when he’s not feeling it that day. Part of that is the result of a deep, developed arsenal, and part of it is plus-plus makeup and a competitive streak that helps Fried get the most from his stuff that day. No. 1 starters have eye-popping stuff, but they also know how to win without it. That may sound like a cliche, but it’s something you look for in a potential frontline starter. Fried is a special talent, a frontline starter, and he’s going to be in his share of Cy Young races as long as he stays healthy.