Braves’ Max Fried gets another hit against the Giants

Atlanta Braves Left-hander Max Fried hopes for more success against them San Francisco Giants than six days ago when he gets a rematch Saturday afternoon in California.

The Brave opened the three-game streak with a win on Friday night, just like it did on the other side of the country last week. In the final game, Atlanta hit a home run from Michael Harris II and seven innings of a one-run ball from Spencer Strider in a 5-1 win.

Building on their best record in the major leagues, Atlanta started last week’s home game in a similar fashion, earning a 4-0 win with a Strider jewel.

They also won Saturday’s game 6-5 last weekend before Fried (4-1, 2.83 ERA) failed in his attempt to sweep and had three runs and nine hits in 5 in a 4-3 loss 2/3 innings allowed.

Luis Matos and Wilmer Flores each hit a home run against Fried, who didn’t make a decision.

Frida, 29, will be competing for the fifth time since she was out for three months with a strained left forearm. He threw six shutout innings against the Chicago Cubs in his first return game but hasn’t been nearly as effective since, recording 23 hits and nine runs in 15 2/3 innings.

Fried admitted after last week’s game against them Giants that he understands he is in spring training form while most hitters are in midseason form. But that’s an obstacle he knows he’ll have to overcome by the end of the season.

“I find that sometimes I’m not that perceptive. I don’t do the shots I want in good spots,” he said. “I compete against guys who have been doing this for five months. You’ve seen really good live pitching for a long time. The guys are really sharp. All I know is that my learning curve needs to be a little quicker.”

Fried has never lost to them Giants, with a 2.31 ERA in seven live meetings, including six starts, 3-0. His career ERA at San Francisco is 1.38 from two starts.

The Giants Fried managed an opener last week and they will do it again in the rematch. Right-hander Ryan Walker (4-2, 2.14 ERA) will start, his 11th in 35 appearances this year. He will face it Brave for the first time in his career.

Walker is warned Giants Manager Gabe Kapler on the Brave‘Ability to hit good shots.

“Interestingly, there were (on Friday) a lot of balls below the zone encompassing these Brave “The batsmen went under and drove outfield to score,” Kapler said. “It’s one of the best line-ups ever and they took some really good shots, especially Harris. They’re excellent, excellent athletes in the box.”

Harris buckled himself in Giants Ace Logan Webb’s sixth pitch of the game for a home run, later adding two singles. Atlanta only defeated the hosts 7-6, but still handed San Francisco their 13th loss in their last 18 games.

—Field-level media