Atlanta Braves' Slugger Hits the Sidelines with Fractured Hand
The Atlanta Braves have been dealt a significant blow to their roster as third baseman Austin Riley could be out for the next six to eight weeks. An MRI revealed that Riley sustained a fracture in his right hand after being hit by a pitch from Los Angeles Angels reliever Jack Kochanowicz. This injury comes at a critical time for the Braves, who are in the thick of the playoff race.
Riley's injury is the latest in a series of unfortunate events for Atlanta. The team has already been coping with the absence of ace pitcher Spencer Strider, who made just two starts before a UCL tear ended his season. Additionally, All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies has been sidelined for nearly a month with a wrist fracture. Star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. has been out since early June following a season-ending ACL tear, and Max Fried, who returned from forearm neuritis, has struggled to find his rhythm on the mound.
Despite these setbacks, Riley has been one of the bright spots for the Braves this season. Over 110 games, he has posted a .256/.322/.461 slash line with 19 home runs and 26 doubles. His performance has seen a notable uptick since May 2024, as he improved his numbers to .275/.339/.531. Interestingly, these improvements came after a sluggish start where his slash line heading into June was .228/.295/.353.
Potential Timeline for Riley's Return
The injury will conceivably keep Riley out for six to eight weeks. If Riley recovers on the quicker end of this estimate, he could potentially make a return during the final week of the regular season. This would be timely for Atlanta as they gear up for a crucial three-game home series against the New York Mets starting on September 24. However, if his recovery extends to the full eight weeks, Riley would be unavailable for the remainder of the regular season and could miss the initial rounds of the postseason. Such a timeline would be a significant loss for the Braves, especially considering their current struggle to maintain their standing in the playoff race.
Playoff Race and Team Standings
The Braves currently hold a slender two-game lead over the Mets for the third and final NL wild-card spot. Trailing close behind are the San Francisco Giants, who are four games back, and the St. Louis Cardinals, who lag by five games. Atlanta is also striving to close a seven-game gap on the first-place Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, a division they have dominated for the past six seasons by clinching the NL East title each year.
In Riley's absence, Luke Williams is expected to step in as the primary third baseman. Williams will have significant shoes to fill, but the Braves are hopeful he can help stabilize the infield and contribute offensively.
With key players like Riley, Albies, and Acuña out of the lineup, the Braves are undoubtedly facing an uphill battle as the season winds down. Their resilience will be tested as they aim to secure a playoff berth and extend their postseason hopes. Atlanta has demonstrated time and again that they can overcome adversity, and this latest string of injuries will require them to dig deeper than ever before.
As the Braves navigate the coming weeks without some of their top talents, the focus will be on maintaining their playoff position and getting the best out of those who have stepped into the void. With a two-game lead in the wild-card race and a challenging road ahead, the resilience and depth of the Atlanta roster will be critical in the final stretch of the regular season.