As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Fried to return from IL:
The Braves have been perhaps the most impressive team in the majors this year, with a phenomenal 69-37 record that puts them 11.5 games up on the competition in the NL East. What’s more, they’ve done all of that without two of their most impactful starters from last season: left-hander Max Fried and right-hander Kyle Wright. That’s poised to change today, at least in the case of Fried, as the southpaw is set to return from the IL today to take the mound against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. As Fried is on the 60-day IL, the club will need to make a 40-man roster move to accommodate their lefty ace.
Since his breakout campaign in 2020, Fried has been one of the game’s best starters with a 2.64 ERA (165 ERA+) and 3.01 FIP in 74 starts. That includes a stellar 2022 campaign where Fried made the first All-Star appearance of his career and was the runner-up in NL Cy Young award voting after posting a sterling 2.48 ERA and an equally excellent 2.70 FIP. In five starts this season prior to going on the injured list, Fried appeared on track to continue his dominance from last season, as he posted a walk rate of just 5.8% against a solid 24.3% strikeout rate, leaving him with a 2.08 ERA and 3.04 FIP over 26 innings of work.
2. Verlander to make 2023 Astros debut:
Newly re-acquired Astros ace Justin Verlander is set to make his 2023 debut with the team against the Yankees in the Bronx on Saturday opposite Nestor Cortes, who will be making his first start since going on the injured list back in May. Verlander, now in his age-40 season, signed with the Mets after winning the World Series with the Astros last season but was made available at the trade deadline thanks to the Mets’ unexpected struggles this season. After weathering injuries to Luis Garcia, Jose Urquidy, and Lance McCullers Jr. for most of the 2023 campaign, Houston pounced on the opportunity to re-acquire their ace, sending a prospect package headlined by top prospect Drew Gilbert to Queens in exchange for Verlander’s services.
As Verlander prepares to make his first Astros start since he was the winning pitcher in Game 5 of the 2022 World Series, he’s in the midst of another strong season with a 3.15 ERA over 16 starts. That being said, Verlander’s performance has taken a step back from the dominance he displayed last season en route to the third Cy Young award of his career. In 2022, Verlander struck out 27.8% of the batters he faced, while this season that figure has dipped to just 21%. That being said, Verlander figures to help anchor the starting staff in Houston alongside left-hander Framber Valdez, giving the Astros a pair of aces as they attempt to catch the Rangers in the AL West.
3. Woodruff to return from IL:
The Brewers reclaimed the lead in the NL Central race yesterday as they took a half-game lead over the Reds following a 14-1 rout of the Pirates. As they try to protect that minuscule lead, they’ll receive reinforcements this weekend from ace right-hander Brandon Woodruff. He’ll be activated from the injured list on Sunday to make his first start since early April, when he first went on the shelf due to a subscapular strain in his right shoulder. Before he can take the field against the Pirates, the Brewers will need to make a 40-man roster move to accommodate the righty, who is currently on the 60-day IL.
Woodruff has been perhaps one of the most underrated starters in the game in recent years. Since joining the rotation full-time in 2019, Woodruff has posted an incredible 2.97 ERA (142 ERA+) with a nearly matching FIP of 3.04 across 94 starts with a strikeout rate just north of 30%. Prior to his aforementioned injury, Woodruff seemed to be gearing up for another dominant season with a microscopic 0.79 ERA across his two starts this season. With fellow ace Corbin Burnes also heating up in recent weeks (1.85 ERA in six July starts), Milwaukee’s rotation seems well-equipped as they work to fend off the Reds and Cubs over the next two months.
Fried Cubs, Seen Today at Wrigley … News at 11
So excited for Woody to be back for the crew. The dude is a Milwaukee fav.
Getting him back is better for the Brewers than any trade deadline additions
Looks like Daulton Guthrie got the DFA to make room for Fried. I imagine Guthrie will get claimed. Going to be fun if Fried is healthy considering what this team has done in his absence and sounds like Kyle Wright might be back mid September.
It is August, then September, two months before the important stuff starts. I am impressed with the Braves and certainly will root for them under their other nickname “Nottheyankees”. Unless it gets to the World Series and they’re playing the team that stayed in Boston. But for now, good luck to the Braves.
Cubs facing Atlanta is going to be one heck of a test for the Cubs. Reds don’t exactly have as strong pitching as the Braves, it’s going to be fun how they deal against the best team in baseball.
Houston’s success today will depend on how jumbo the large one’s strike zone is granted to be by the home plate dumpire. MLB giveth and MLB taketh away. We’ll find out which it is today.
Woodruff’s return will just disrupt the clubhouse as players who have been grinding all year won’t think it’s fair he just decides to come back in August and act like he’s part of the team again.
Absolutely zero people will think it’s unfair, period. He should act like he’s part of the team as he has been for seven years.He’s a stud and gives this team the best chance to win. Furthermore HE didn’t decide not to pitch. They’re called team doctors working with Craig counsell.
In regards to Woodruff The Brewers will have to make a move on the active roster but won’t have to make a 40 man move as it currently stands at 39.