Having felt the wrath of Kyle Schwarber, the Blue Jays faced a much more subtle and yet equally intimidating presence in left-hander Max Fried.
Fried started Friday night’s series opener at Truist Park, where the home side is short on bats given the current roster makeup, but deep when it comes to quality arms.
In Kevin Gausman, Fried was pitted against his former teammate.
It made for a compelling matchup, especially when compared to Schwarber’s one-man show when he hit four home runs, including three in the series opener, during Philly’s two-game sweep of the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
While Schwarber’s thump did the damage, Fried was near flawless, confounding Toronto’s hitters with his pitch mix.
In seven complete innings, Fried struck out eight in spearheading the Braves to their 3-1 win.
Raisel Iglesias started the ninth by striking out Will Wagner.
Spencer Horwitz entered the game as a pinch-hitter and also struck out.
Joey Loperfido also came in as a pinch-hitter and reached base on a first-pitch double as the Jays mounted a rally until Iglesias struck out George Springer, who did represent the go-ahead run.
Gausman, meanwhile, went six innings.
Outside of one inning, Gausman was just as good as Fried.
The one inning Gausman would want back came in the second when he yielded a leadoff walk.
The frame ended when Matt Olson flew out into deep left field to leave the bases loaded.
Atlanta would score three runs on five hits while drawing three walks off Gausman.
Through two innings, Gausman’s pitch count had reached 55.
Not surprisingly, the veteran regrouped and was able to regain his form.
Once the first two innings were in the books, Gausman retired the side in order in each of the ensuing three innings.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who drove in Toronto’s first run on a groundout in the third inning, opened the sixth inning by sending a ball through the hole on the left side of the infield.
Vlad Jr.’s single was followed by an Alejandro Kirk single.
Then came back-to-back strikeouts before Fried faced Leo Jimenez, who fell behind the count 0-2.
A nasty curveball struck out Jimenez as Fried accounted for half of his hitherto six strikeouts in one inning.
Hits were scarce, but Atlanta happened to string together enough in the second inning when the game would be won.
BO IN DIXIE
There was more than Georgia on the minds of the Blue Jays when they landed in Atlanta to begin a weekend series against the playoff-contending Braves.
Somewhere in the back of management’s mind is the health of Bo Bichette, who, up until this season, was generally viewed as one of the franchise’s faces.
What management does with Bichette, whose deal expires at the end of the 2025 season, will be hotly debated this winter.
For the time being, Bichette will remain with the Jays in Atlanta as he prepares for a minor-league rehab assignment with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
Cameras showed a very engaged Bichette signing autographs in the hours leading up to the first pitch.
Away from the glare of the cameras, Bichette could be seen running the base as his ramp-up continued.
The plan, for now, is to have Bichette play as many five games with the Bisons and play his normal position at shortstop and also serve as DH in a split role leading to his eventual return to the big leagues at some point next weekend.
ERR JORDAN
Absolutely no one should be surprised to learn the Jays will not have Jordan Romano available.
Once Romano underwent arthroscopic surgery in early July to repair an impingement in his right elbow, it made no sense for the Markham native to pitch again because there was nothing to be gained.
The best course of action was to have a fully healthy Romano available for spring training.
Whether it was a case of running out of time or simply erring on the side of caution and discretion, Romano was never viewed as a viable option and nor should he have been.
Romano experienced discomfort during spring training in ’24 and was never the same, even though he did persevere.
It remains to be seen if the Jays pursue a closer this off-season.
ORELVIS TO SIT
With so many additions to the roster, so many youngsters basically auditioning for a potential roster spot, either with the Jays or another team, the chances of Orelvis Martinez returning to the big-league team were as likely as the Jays making the playoffs.
Besides, the optics would have been horrible given the MLB-mandated 80-game suspension given to Martinez when he tested positive for PED, which was announced a day after he recorded his first hit in the show when the Jays were in Cleveland in mid-June.
Appearances aside, there’s no room for Martinez on the roster.
For the record, his suspension gets lifted on Sept. 23.
However, beginning this Sunday he’ll be able to play on a minor-league assignment.
BRIEFLY
Right-hander Luis Frias, whom the Jays claimed off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 10, was recalled Friday from Triple-A; in a corresponding move, left-hander Brandon Eisert was optioned to Buffalo … Springer, who DHed Friday, entered the game one leadoff home run from tying Devin White’s franchise record of 22; for the record, Springer grounded out in his first at-bat; Nathan Lukes started in right field for Springer and produced a two-hit game.