Braves move Fried to rotation

Left-hander will start Saturday as Newcomb, Teheran get extra rest.

The Braves tweaked their rotation prior to hosting the Dodgers in the opener of a four-game series Thursday.

Max Fried will start Saturday against former Brave Alex Wood. Sean Newcomb will face Ross Stripling on Sunday. Julio Teheran, coming off a disastrous outing in Miami, will face those same Marlins on Monday.

The moves allow the team to plug Fried into the rotation on regular schedule, while Newcomb and Teheran get a day of extra rest.

Anibal Sanchez made his scheduled start against the Dodgers on Thursday. Mike Foltynewicz will face Clayton Kershaw on Saturday.

Fried impressed in his Triple-A rehab start July 23, striking out 10 in 6⅔ scoreless innings. He and Luiz Gohara were the leading candidates for the fifth rotation spot, with Brandon McCarthy and Mike Soroka on the disabled list.

In 20⅔ innings, Fried owns a 3.92 ERA with 25 strikeouts.

Gohara, who was once tentatively scheduled to join the rotation after the All-Star break, will remain on schedule with Triple-A Gwinnett.

The lefty’s had a roller-coaster season, missing spring training with injuries and unable to carve out a role in the majors.

There is no concrete plan for Gohara moving forward. He’ll continue in Triple-A, and the team will re-assess when he’s back up to speed.

Albies back in lineup: Ozzie Albies returned to the Braves’ lineup for Thursday’s series opener against the Dodgers.

Albies left Friday’s game in Washington with hamstring tightness, and the Braves chose to rest him three games, their usual cautious approach.

“We were confident,” manager Brian Snitker said. “He checked all the boxes they wanted to see, ran the bases, feels good. We’ll re-evaluate after the game and see where he’s at.”

Albies is hitting .385 (40 for 104) with 10 doubles, 20 homers and 10 steals his past 24 games.

He slotted in his regular No. 2 spot in the lineup, now hitting behind friend and newly minted leadoff man Ronald Acuna.

Snitker also gave Dansby Swanson a day off, plugging in the hot-hitting Charlie Culberson at shortstop and the sixth spot in the order.

Culberson has been the Braves’ best offensive player since the break. He went 10 for 19 (.526) on the latest trip.