Watch: Phillies blister Braves starter Max Fried early
Max Fried is pitching with a blister on Monday. The Philadelphia Phillies have been blistering his pitches.
Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto took Fried deep in the top of the third inning, giving the Phillies a 3-0 lead in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. That came after Fried got out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, but not until after Alec Bohm drove in Trea Turner for Philadelphia's first run.
Fried gave up four hits in the inning and threw 30 pitches, his most in the first inning since April 2021. He was up to 75 pitches through three innings, allowing nine baserunners.
Fans on Twitter were quick to notice the TBS announcers talking incessantly about Fried's blister, an irritation on his left index finger that landed him on the injured list on Sept. 22. It seemed to bother Fried when he threw fastballs, as he was leaning heavily on breaking pitches by the third inning.
It appears that the 18 days off didn't help Fried's blister. Or it's simply that he has to face the Phillies, who have combined for a slash line of .299/.349/.495 against the Braves ace. Turner has a lifetime average of .367 against Fried, while Realmuto went into the game with a career OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.026 and three home runs against Fried.
If Atlanta can't get it together against the Phillies, where starter Zack Wheeler has eight strikeouts through four innings, Fried will have all winter to deal with his blister problem.
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