Fried, Pache placed on injured list

ATLANTA -- Max Fried will spend at least the next week recovering from a right hamstring strain suffered during an ill-fated unexpected trip around the bases as the Braves placed the left-hander on the 10-day injured list.

Atlanta also went ahead with its plan to put Cristian Pache on the 10-day IL due to a left groin strain.

Left-hander Tucker Davidson will provide bullpen depth while filling Fried’s roster spot over the next few days. The club could call upon Bryse Wilson or Kyle Wright to make Fried’s next scheduled start on Sunday.

Braves manager Brian Snitker said he is hoping Fried misses just one start. With two scheduled off-days next week, the team could opt to wait until April 27 to activate Fried, who would be eligible for activation three days earlier.

“With hamstrings, you just never know,” Snitker said. “We're leaving him back [during the road trip] and letting him get treated up. Hopefully, it is just one start.”

Fried allowed a career-high eight runs and nine hits over four innings in Tuesday’s 14-8 loss to the Marlins. It was determined that he would not return to pitch the fifth inning.

But because the Braves had just a four-man bench, Fried batted in the fourth and doubled. He tweaked his hamstring while going from second to third on a wild pitch.

“That was just kind of a freak thing,” Snitker said. “You’d think if he was going to do it, he’d have done it coming out of the box and racing to second. This was just kind of a weird thing, like last year when he sprained his ankle fielding a bunt. These things happen.”

Coming off a career-best season, Fried posted an 11.45 ERA through three starts. The time off may allow him to refine his mechanics, which have seemed to be rushed, causing him to frequently fly open during his delivery.

“Maybe this will end up being something good,” Snitker said. “You hate somebody getting injured. But you never know, when you look back on it, maybe this will be something that allows him to reset and get himself back on track.”

Guillermo Heredia was the only available outfielder on the 40-man roster. So he was promoted to account for the absence of Pache, who had dealt with discomfort for a few days before having to exit Tuesday’s loss after four innings.

Ender Inciarte and Heredia could share the center field duties. Inciarte got the start on Wednesday night, but Heredia is expected to start against Marlins lefty Trevor Rogers on Thursday.

Pache ranks as MLB Pipeline’s No. 11 prospect. Concerns about him being ready offensively have grown as the 22-year-old center fielder has hit .133 (4-for-30) with 13 strikeouts this season. He struck out in his two plate appearances Tuesday.

“We’re going to make sure he gets healthy because this is something you don’t want to have linger,” Snitker said. “I would imagine at the end of the 10 days, he should be good also.”