So sad: He might not play again Atlanta Braves defensive tackle serious injury

The fickle finger of fate could determine the winner of the 2023 playoffs – at least for the Atlanta Braves.

Two days in a row last week, finger injuries idled a pair of the team’s top starters.

First to fall was 29-year-old Max Fried, the left-handed ace who missed three months earlier with a left forearm strain. One day later, veteran right-hander Charlie Morton pitched one inning at Washington before he was removed with a sprained finger.

Because the Braves, like the Dodgers, will have a bye given to teams with the best records, Fried should be ready to resume his role at the top of the rotation when the Division Series starts for the Braves on Oct. 7. He could also make a second start in the best-of-five series.

But Morton won’t be ready to come off the Injured List in time.

Manager Brian Snitker believes he’d be available for the second round – the best-of-seven National League Championship Series, if Atlanta gets that far.

With 100 wins entering play Tuesday, the Braves currently hold home-field advantage for all playoff rounds, with “magic numbers” of 3 to clinch the NLCS over the Los Angeles Dodgers and 4 to clinch the World Series over the Baltimore Orioles.

This is the second straight season that the Braves suffered injuries to two top starters just before the playoffs. Last year, Fried was weakened by a stomach virus just before the NLDS against Philadelphia and Spencer Strider was not quite recovered from an oblique injury.