Braves’ Max Fried Fallback Plan Could Involve Getting Some Revenge on the Dodgers
Max Fried, one of the Atlanta Braves’ most reliable pitchers, has long been a key contributor to the team’s success.
As a left-handed ace, his ability to dominate on the mound has propelled the Braves into championship contention in recent seasons. However, as with any elite athlete, the road to success is not always smooth. Fried has faced his fair share of adversity, including injuries, tough matchups, and the occasional slip-up in high-stakes moments. Yet, one of the most fascinating storylines of Fried’s career — and one that could play a significant role in the Braves’ upcoming playoff pursuits — is his potential “fallback plan” to extract some much-needed revenge on the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Rise of Max Fried
Before delving into the potential “revenge” aspect, it’s important to first understand the significance of Max Fried’s role on the Braves.
Since making his Major League debut in 2017, Fried has steadily evolved into one of the best pitchers in the game. His combination of elite command, a nasty curveball, and a polished fastball has made him one of the most feared southpaws in all of baseball.
Fried’s breakout year came in 2020, when he finished second in the National League Cy Young voting after posting a 2.25 ERA and leading the Braves’ pitching staff through a pandemic-shortened season. His success continued in 2021, when he played an instrumental role in helping the Braves win the World Series. He went 14-7 with a 3.04 ERA and was particularly effective in the postseason, earning crucial victories in the NLCS and World Series.
Despite a few injury setbacks — including a forearm strain in 2022 — Fried has remained a top-tier pitcher for Atlanta. His consistency, leadership, and ability to perform in high-pressure situations have made him one of the cornerstones of the Braves’ rotation.
The Dodgers: A Nemesis for Fried and the Braves
For as successful as Max Fried has been, one of the glaring obstacles in his career — and by extension, the Braves’ playoff aspirations — has been the Los Angeles Dodgers. Over the past few years, the Dodgers have been a perennial powerhouse, known for their talent-laden roster, including stars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers’ dominance in the National League has often meant that the Braves have had to go through them in order to reach the World Series.
Fried’s history with the Dodgers has been an up-and-down affair. While he’s had some strong performances against them, he’s also been a part of several crushing defeats in high-stakes playoff series, including the 2020 NLCS, where the Braves blew a 3-1 series lead to the Dodgers, ultimately losing in seven games.
In that 2020 postseason, Fried took the mound twice against Los Angeles. He was solid in his first start, allowing just one earned run over six innings, but in his second appearance, things fell apart. He struggled with command, giving up five earned runs over 4.2 innings, and the Braves lost 15-3 in Game 6, ultimately letting the series slip away. His mixed results in those games highlighted the larger issue: the Braves simply couldn’t overcome the Dodgers in key moments. The heartbreaking series loss to LA became a defining moment in Atlanta’s postseason history — one that has haunted the franchise for years.
The 2021 NLCS and Redemption
In 2021, the Braves and Dodgers met again in the postseason, this time in the National League Championship Series. This time, the stakes were even higher, with a trip to the World Series on the line. Fried was called upon to be the ace once again, and while the Braves ultimately won the series in six games, Fried’s performances were far from dominant.
Fried took the mound in Game 2 and was rocked for five earned runs over just four innings. While Atlanta would go on to win that game 5-4, Fried’s struggles on the mound were concerning, and it seemed like the Dodgers’ offensive juggernaut might have his number. He would later make another start in Game 6, but by that point, the Braves were in a commanding 3-1 series lead. Fried pitched a strong 5.2 innings in that game, allowing just two runs and helping Atlanta secure a crucial 4-2 victory to seal the series and advance to the World Series. However, Fried’s performance in the postseason against the Dodgers remained a mixed bag, with flashes of brilliance tempered by a tendency to struggle in key moments.
Despite the eventual success, the Dodgers had a psychological edge over the Braves, and Max Fried — the man who would one day be expected to lead the Braves back to glory — had yet to fully prove himself as the postseason ace the team needed.
The 2024 Playoffs: A Chance for Redemption
Fast forward to the 2024 MLB postseason, and the Braves find themselves once again in the hunt for a World Series title. They boast one of the best records in baseball, and Fried has been performing at an elite level. However, the specter of the Dodgers remains looming large. As always, LA is a team to be reckoned with, and the Braves are likely to face them once again in a high-stakes playoff series.
For Max Fried, the 2024 postseason could offer a unique opportunity — not just to prove himself as a dominant postseason pitcher, but also to exact a measure of revenge against the Dodgers for their past defeats. A rematch with the Dodgers would not only give Fried the chance to perform on the biggest stage but also give him a shot at redemption for his past struggles against a team that has frequently gotten the better of him and the Braves in the playoffs.
How Fried Could Seek Revenge
To fully understand how Max Fried could go about seeking revenge on the Dodgers, we need to look at how he matches up against them. Historically, Fried’s curveball has been a weapon that has given left-handed hitters — including the Dodgers’ left-handed power hitters like Max Muncy and Freddie Freeman — significant trouble. In 2024, Fried’s curveball has been one of his best pitches, with an exceptional spin rate and the ability to freeze hitters with its late-breaking movement.
Against the Dodgers, Fried’s key to success will lie in his ability to locate that curveball effectively and mix in his fastball to keep hitters off balance. The Dodgers are known for their patient approach at the plate, often working counts deep and forcing pitchers into uncomfortable situations. Fried will need to avoid the types of mistakes that have led to big innings against the Dodgers in the past. In 2020 and 2021, Fried’s struggles often came when he left pitches over the plate or fell behind in counts, allowing the Dodgers to tee off on him.
The Dodgers’ lineup is, as always, stacked with talent. Mookie Betts, Freeman, and Will Smith are all dangerous hitters who can change the game with a single swing. But if Fried can establish early command and keep hitters from getting into hitters’ counts, he can prevent the Dodgers from turning the game into a slugfest. Additionally, Fried will need to stay composed in high-leverage situations, where the Dodgers have often thrived in the past.
Psychologically, there is an element of revenge for Fried. While players often try to block out previous disappointments and focus on the task at hand, the sting of the 2020 NLCS and 2021 NLCS is something that cannot be entirely erased. For Fried, facing the Dodgers in a potential postseason showdown offers an opportunity to rewrite his personal narrative. A dominant performance against Los Angeles would not only silence critics but also cement Fried’s legacy as a postseason ace — a title he has yet to fully claim.
The Broader Implications for the Braves
Beyond Fried’s individual quest for redemption, the Braves as a team would also stand to benefit from avenging their past postseason failures against the Dodgers. A victory over LA would prove that the Braves are no longer the team that falters in the face of adversity. Beating the Dodgers — a team that has dominated the National League for much of the past decade — would serve as a statement that the Braves are a force to be reckoned with, not just in the regular season, but in the postseason as well.
For the Braves, a victory over the Dodgers could also help solidify their place in baseball history. Atlanta’s 2021 World Series victory ended a long championship drought, but if they can get past the Dodgers in 2024, it would be a sign of continued success and sustained excellence. Max Fried, as one of the team’s most important players, would play a key role in that narrative. If he can get the better of the Dodgers, it will not only solidify his own legacy but also further cement the Braves’ place as one of the elite teams in baseball.
Conclusion
Max Fried’s potential revenge against the Dodgers is more than just a storyline about personal redemption. It’s a chance for Fried to silence his critics, showcase his true abilities on the postseason stage, and help the Braves overcome their biggest obstacle in their pursuit of a World Series title. The Dodgers, as formidable as they are, have been a thorn in the side of the Braves for years, and if Fried can finally get the better of them, it could be a turning point in his career — and in the Braves’ pursuit of a second championship in four years. With the stakes higher than ever, Fried’s ability to rise to the occasion will be one of the defining storylines of the 2024 postseason.
