Ace Max Fried of the Atlanta Braves is expected to return.

A significant portion of the Atlanta Braves starting rotation is expected to return to the mound.

According to numerous rumors, Max Fried, the ace of the Atlanta Braves rotation, will take the mound again on Sunday in the series finale against the Miami Marlins. After being out for a few weeks, a crucial starting pitcher for the Braves will return. On Friday, Fried was cleared to be activated. Due to forearm neuritis, he was placed on the 15-Day Injured List on July 21 and has not been back since. He pitched a scoreless second inning in the MLB All-Star Game, which was his final game appearance. July 11 was his final regular-season game appearance.

In 18 starts this season, Fried has a 3.08 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP and 95 strikeouts in 108 innings pitched.

Fried tends to have strong finishes to the season making his return to the rotation all the more valuable. Here are his stats over the last three seasons post-break:

2023: 2.79 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, .247 opp average

2022: 2.18 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, .208 opp average

2021: 1.74 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, .190 opp average

He’s consistently shown himself to be a dependable arm. In addition, having an extra clutch arm in the rotation helps the Braves maintain their advantage over the Phillies in the division while they have been making progress. A week ago, they were back at 9.5, but now they’re back at five.

The rotation of the Braves keeps getting healthier. Four of the team’s five starters are back, although they are still without Reynaldo Lopez, who hasn’t thrown in a bullpen session since leaving with tightness in his forearm. In their four-game series with the Marlins, the Braves have won the opening two games. Fried will be starting to pitch in an attempt to either win the series or complete a sweep. Fried’s start is slated to begin at 1:35 p.m. on Sunday.