The Atlanta Braves had a chance to end the World Series in Atlanta on Halloween night, but the Houston Astros lived to take the series back to Texas.
On Tuesday night, the Braves have another chance to end the Fall Classic and they are putting their ace pitcher on the mound in Max Fried.
This is Friend’s second chance in the World Series to give the Braves a quality start. In Game 2, Fried didn’t pitch as well; giving up six runs on seven hits in five innings and lost. But Tuesday night is different.
The 27-year-old is getting the ball in perhaps the biggest game of his life to close out a championship for a Braves team in search of their first championship since 1995.
Over the last two games, Braves manager Brian Snitker has been trying to get by with bullpen games. It worked in Game 4, but not so much in Game 5 when the Braves squandered a 4-0 lead and then a 5-4 lead.
This time, Snitker is handing his ace the ball in a win and host the trophy type game. This is the kind of game you hand the ball to Roger Clemens. Or Pedro Martinez. Or Randy Johnson. Or in the Braves case, John Smoltz, who will be doing commentary in the booth for FOX.
Fried has a chance to solidify his legacy by putting up an ace-like performance and slamming the door on the Astros chances of forcing a Game 7 tomorrow night.
Winning in Atlanta in front of the fans would have been nice, but bringing the trophy back after 26 years is the ultimate goal.
Players dream about pitching their team to a World Series. Max Fried has that very chance tonight to do so.
