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Max Fried, Braves look to secure series win in Arizona

Max Fried will be on the mound Thursday night as the Atlanta Braves look to secure another series win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Braves took the first two games of the series before dropping a 7-5 decision on Wednesday. Right-hander Brandon Pfaadt will get the start for Arizona.

Fried will make his 18th start of the season Thursday night and will be looking to bounce back after a rough outing last time out where he allowed 11 hits and five runs in six innings against the Phillies. Fried surrendered two homers to Trea Turner in that start which matched his total of homers allowed for all of June. Fried has a 4.84 ERA in four career starts against the Diamondbacks and most of that damage came in his second start of the season where he allowed seven earned runs in just 4 ¹⁄₃ innings.

Pfaadt matched up against Fried back on April 6 and also struggled allowing five runs in 5 ²⁄₃ innings and didn’t figure into the decision. He pitched well his last time out where he allowed seven hits, but just one run over 4 ¹⁄₃ innings against the Padres. His outing was cut short after 62 pitches when he was struck in the ankle by a line drive. X-rays were negative and he is cleared to start Thursday night.

The Braves battled back from a 5-3 deficit and tied the game with a two-run home run by Marcell Ozuna in the eighth. However, Joe Jimenez had a rare slip-up in the home half of the inning which sent Atlanta to a 7-5 loss. Despite the loss, Atlanta has scored at least five runs in six straight games dating back to July 5.

Thursday’s series finale is scheduled to get underway at 9:40 p.m. ET and can be seen on Bally Sports South.