Braves' Riley Faces Extended Absence After Hand Fracture
In a significant setback for the Atlanta Braves, third baseman Austin Riley is expected to be sidelined for the next six to eight weeks due to a fracture in his right hand. This news came to light following an MRI that confirmed the severity of the injury Riley sustained after being hit by a pitch from Los Angeles Angels reliever Jack Kochanowicz.
The timing of this injury is particularly unfortunate for Riley, who has been showing marked improvement in his performance as the season progressed. Through 110 games, Riley had hit .256/.322/.461, showcasing his power with 19 home runs and 26 doubles. His offensive output had notably risen since May, with his slash line improving to .275/.339/.531, a significant uptick from his early-season stats of .228/.295/.353 heading into June.
If Riley manages to recover on the quicker end of the estimated timeline, he could potentially rejoin the Braves during the final week of the regular season. Optimistically, his return could coincide with Atlanta’s crucial three-game home series against the New York Mets, commencing on September 24. However, should his recovery extend to the full eight weeks, Riley would miss the remainder of the regular season and could be unavailable for the initial rounds of the postseason.
The Braves have had their fair share of injury woes this season. Ace pitcher Spencer Strider was sidelined early on, making just two starts before a UCL tear ended his campaign. Additionally, All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies has been out of action for almost a month due to a wrist fracture, and MVP candidate Ronald Acuña Jr. has been absent since early June after suffering a season-ending ACL tear. Even Max Fried, who recently returned from forearm neuritis, has struggled to find his rhythm upon his return.
Currently, the Braves are clinging to a two-game lead over the Mets for the third and final NL wild-card spot. They are also striving to close a seven-game gap on the first-place Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East. The San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals are trailing the Braves by four and five games, respectively, in the wild-card race.
Despite these adversities, Atlanta has a strong track record in recent years, having clinched the NL East title for the past six seasons. Their resilient spirit will be put to the test once again as they navigate this critical period without some of their key players.
In Riley’s absence, Luke Williams is expected to step up as the primary third baseman. Williams' performance will be under considerable scrutiny as the Braves look to maintain their postseason aspirations.
The Braves' journey this season has been a rollercoaster, fraught with injuries and challenges. However, with a resilient team spirit and strategic maneuvering, there is hope that they can overcome these setbacks. As Riley embarks on his recovery, the Braves look to rally as a unit and continue their push towards October baseball.