In a major setback for the Atlanta Braves, their third baseman, Austin Riley, will be sidelined for the next six to eight weeks after an MRI revealed a fracture in his right hand. Riley sustained the injury after being hit by a pitch from Los Angeles Angels reliever Jack Kochanowicz, a blow that could significantly impact the Braves' postseason ambitions.
Crucial Loss for the Braves
The timing of Riley's injury could hardly be worse for the Braves, who are battling to secure a spot in the playoffs. Riley has been a key contributor this season, batting .256/.322/.461 with 19 home runs and 26 doubles over 110 games. His performance has notably improved since May 2024, boasting a slash line of .275/.339/.531, a stark contrast to his pre-June numbers of .228/.295/.353.
If Riley recovers on the quicker end of the estimate, he might return during the final week of the regular season, aligning with the Braves' 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 miss the remainder of the regular season and could potentially be unavailable for the initial rounds of the postseason.
Injury-Stricken Roster
This injury compounds the Braves' existing challenges. They have already lost ace pitcher Spencer Strider, who made just two starts before a UCL tear ended his season. In addition, All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies has been out for nearly a month due to a wrist fracture, and Ronald Acuña Jr. has been sidelined since early June following a season-ending ACL tear. Even Max Fried, who recently returned from forearm neuritis, has struggled to find his rhythm.
Playoff Implications
Currently, the Braves hold a precarious two-game lead over the Mets for the third and final NL wild-card spot. They are also fending off the San Francisco Giants, trailing by four games, and the St. Louis Cardinals, who are five games behind. Amid these challenges, the Braves are striving to close a seven-game gap on the first-place Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, a division they have dominated by clinching the title for the past six seasons.
Given the team's current predicament, Luke Williams is expected to step in as the primary third baseman in Riley's absence. Williams will need to rise to the occasion if the Braves are to maintain their playoff hopes and possibly extend their impressive streak of NL East titles.
The loss of Riley, along with other key players, will test the Braves' depth and resilience as they navigate the final stretch of the regular season. Whether they can overcome these obstacles and make a strong postseason run remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the road ahead is fraught with challenges.