Snitker: Fried will be ready for Game 1 of WC

ATLANTA -- Braves manager Brian Snitker expects Max Fried to be ready to start Game 1 of next week’s National League Wild Card Series.

“I think everybody thinks that is a realistic possibility,” Snitker said.

Fried’s availability became uncertain when he turned his left ankle and exited after the first inning of Wednesday night’s win over the Marlins. But the Braves were encouraged by the evaluations that were performed after the game, and when the lefty returned to Truist Park on Thursday.

“He’s moving around OK,” Snitker said. “He’s a little sore. But all the tests were negative and he’ll just continue to get treatment and take it day-to-day. I think with everything they have going on in that training room, he’ll be good to go.”

Fried established himself as an NL Cy Young Award candidate this year, but these past few weeks have been rough. Lower back spasms forced him to spend two weeks on the injured list this month. He was activated Friday, with the thought he’d have time to make two starts before the postseason began.

But if Fried does start Game 1 on Wednesday, he will do so having totaled just six innings dating back to Sept. 5, when his back began to bother him. His 22-pitch outing on Wednesday night was tarnished by the back-to-back solo homers he surrendered to Jesús Aguilar and Brian Anderson. He had faced 220 batters this year without allowing a home run before Aguilar hit his solo shot.

“He’ll be fine,” Snitker said. “It is what it is. There’s nothing wrong with his arm. It’s just one of those situations we’re going to have to play around with.”