SAN DIEGO (AP) — In a pivotal showdown during Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series, the Atlanta Braves’ left-hander Max Fried and the San Diego Padres’ right-hander Joe Musgrove were forced to exit prematurely due to injuries, clouding the course of the game. The Braves, battered by bad fortune, ultimately fell short as the Padres completed a two-game sweep, sealing a 5-4 triumph.
For Fried, whose tenure with Atlanta may soon conclude as he heads into free agency after the World Series, Wednesday’s outing was cut short after just two innings. The southpaw was struck on the left hip by a fierce comebacker from Fernando Tatis Jr. in the opening frame. Despite enduring the impact, Fried managed to escape a bases-loaded situation in the first inning. However, the damage manifested in the second, as he surrendered five runs on a brutal string of six consecutive hits with two outs.
“It was his hip,” admitted Braves skipper Brian Snitker. “As the inning dragged on, it became clear that he wasn’t right. The longer he was out there, the more he struggled.”
Reliever Dylan Lee was summoned to start the third inning, but by then, the Braves were facing an uphill climb. Despite a spirited attempt at a comeback, the deficit proved too great, and Atlanta’s postseason journey ended in disappointment.
Meanwhile, Musgrove’s night also ended prematurely. After delivering two sluggish curveballs to fall behind in the count against Matt Olson in the fourth inning, he was visited on the mound by pitching coach Ruben Niebla, manager Mike Shildt, and a team trainer. Shortly after, Musgrove was removed from the game with what was later identified as tightness in his right elbow.
“It’s frustrating,” Musgrove remarked. “I wanted to finish the job out there. This isn’t how I envisioned my first postseason outing, but it’s the hand I’ve been dealt. I’ll do everything I can to address it and work my way back as soon as possible.”
Despite the setback, Musgrove participated in both the on-field celebrations and the ensuing clubhouse festivities following the Padres’ victory. However, his availability for the remainder of the postseason remains uncertain, particularly ahead of the highly anticipated best-of-five Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, set to begin on Saturday.
“If you’re not a pitcher, it’s hard to fully understand,” Musgrove said, trying to articulate the discomfort. “I just couldn’t get to full extension or release my pitches with confidence. I thought I could at least get through the inning and address it between innings, but I couldn’t make it that far.”
The San Diego native, who previously endured two stints on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation this season, acknowledged the ongoing struggle. Those previous injuries sidelined him for a total of 63 games, including an extended absence of over two months.
Padres manager Mike Shildt struck a cautiously optimistic tone but remained measured. “It would be irresponsible to speculate too much at this point,” Shildt noted. “Joe is determined to do everything within his power to return, and I wouldn’t doubt him for a second. Something just didn’t feel right in his elbow, but the initial belief is that it’s structurally sound. We’ll have further evaluations soon.”
Musgrove, etched into Padres lore after throwing the franchise’s first-ever no-hitter on April 9, 2021, has become a central figure in the club’s aspirations. He achieved the historic feat in his second start with his hometown team after being acquired via a trade with Pittsburgh in the offseason prior.
Fried, a former Padres first-round pick in 2012, was dealt to Atlanta in a six-player trade in December 2014, and he made his MLB debut in August 2017. The left-hander was instrumental in the Braves’ recent success, earning the win in the clinching Game 6 of the 2021 World Series against Houston.
As the postseason rolls forward, both teams will now have to navigate the uncertain waters created by their pitchers’ injuries, as one team marches forward and the other reflects on what could have been.
