Fried heads to DL with blister on middle finger

MILWAUKEE -- Max Fried's latest battle with a blister has allowed the Braves to once again bring right-handed reliever Evan Phillips back to the Major League level.
Before Friday night's game against the Brewers, the Braves placed Fried on the disabled list with a left middle finger blister. This opened the door for Phillips to be recalled just two days after being optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett.
"[A blister] is one of those things you don't try to pitch through, because the skin is going to go, and then he'll end up missing significant time," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "He missed significant time with it last year. I don't know what the answer is. I haven't stayed at a Holiday Inn Express enough to know."
Fried surrendered four runs through the first two innings of Thursday night's 7-2 loss to the Brewers and then began to be bothered by the blister during his third and final inning. The talented young left-hander has been plagued by blisters throughout his professional career.
"With [Fried's] history, it has never worked before unless he has taken a lot of time off," Snitker said. "If he takes the 10 days, we can kind of stay ahead of it. If he keeps trying to pitch, it's just going to get worse, and be three weeks instead of 10 days."
With two days off next week, the Braves do not necessarily need to find a replacement for Fried, whose next turn would have come on Wednesday against the Blue Jays. The 24-year-old southpaw was called up last week to replace veteran starter Brandon McCarthy, who is still bothered by tendinitis in his right knee.
Mike Foltynewicz could make Wednesday's start on regular rest. The Braves could also give the start to Luiz Gohara, a recent bullpen addition who is less than a week removed from throwing 86 pitches during a start for Gwinnett.
Phillips has now been promoted by the Braves three times within the past 14 days. His first Major League experience lasted 24 hours and did not include an appearance. The 23-year-old reliever provided 2 1/3 solid innings of relief as he made his Major League debut on Tuesday and then was optioned to Gwinnett on Wednesday morning.