Max Fried has been named to the All Star Game for the second year in a row. He replaces Phillies starter Ranger Suarez on the National League team.
Earlier on Saturday, Chris Sale withdrew from the game as he will pitch the finale of the first half on Sunday and wouldn’t be available. He was replaced by Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez, arguably the biggest original sub on the NL’s side.
Fried is deserving of the All Star bid, posting a 3.08 ERA with a 3.55 FIP and 3.41 xFIP across 18 starts and 108 innings. Remove his fluky first “start” of the season, which lasted less than an inning, and Max owns a 2.85 ERA as he approaches free agency this winter.
The Braves had three starting pitchers in total selected for the game, a first since 1997 for the club. They will also have Marcell Ozuna in Texas, who is participating in the Home Run Derby on Monday night at Globe Life Field.
