Braves fans hoping for a fresh start in the second half of the season have been met with disappointment. Not only did the Braves lose their first series to the Cardinals, but they also suffered injuries to two more star players.

Earlier today, the Braves placed Max Fried on the 15-day IL due to nerve damage in his forearm.

The hope is that Fried’s stint on the IL will be brief, but he will miss at least a few turns in the rotation. This is a setback the Braves can’t afford if they want to catch the Phillies in the NL East. The pitching staff, a key strength for Atlanta, has been crucial all season, and the Braves arguably have the best staff in baseball, one capable of carrying them to a World Series. However, that won’t be possible without Max Fried. They need him healthy for October to have any chance of winning.

The offense also took a hit during today’s series finale against the Cardinals. Ozzie Albies injured his wrist on a throw down to second base and left the game.

The severity of the injury is unknown, but it didn’t look promising. Hopefully, X-rays come back negative and Albies can avoid an IL stint altogether. We should know more soon and will keep you updated here at SportsTalkATL.