Cobb Reporter

It’s the biggest game of his life, but Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried insists he won’t be overwhelmed by the magnitude of being his team’s starting pitcher Tuesday night in a game that could lock down the World Series title.

"I think as a kid that you just look forward to winning the World Series and contributing in any way,” Fried said during a virtual press conference with reporters. “To be able to be here in this moment, I am extremely thankful, and honestly, ready to go.”

Fried gets a chance to help the Braves win their first World Series since 1995 when he takes the mound for Game 6 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The Astros will counter with rookie Luis Garcia, who allowed one run on three hits in 3 2/3 inning of work in Game 3 on Friday.

If Fried wins, he’ll make amends for struggling in Game 2. He allowed six runs and seven hits over five innings as Houston won 7-2 to even the series at 1 game apiece. The Braves took the next two games, 2-0 and 3-2, before Houston won Game 5 on Sunday, 9-5.

Fried also struggled in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he allowed 11 base runners before being removed in the fifth inning of the Dodgers' 11-2 win.

“Any time you go out there and don’t perform the way you want, you want to go back out there and redeem yourself,” Fried said. “It’s probably my last outing of the year, so there’s nothing to hold back.”

Fried will try to keep Astros hitters off-balance with an assortment of sliders and curveballs, which were effective in Game 2.

Braves manager Brian Snitker expects Fried to perform like the pitcher who ranked second in ERA (1.74), WHIP (.850) and batting average allowed (.190) among pitchers who worked at least 71 innings after the All-Star Game break.

“I expect to see Max on top of his game," Snitker said during the virtual interview. “I expect that every time he goes out. I mean, this guy probably, since the All-Star break, is one of the best pitchers in the game. So that's kind of the version of Max that I expect to see [Tuesday].”