Preliminary x-rays and a CT scan on Austin Riley’s proper wrist and hand had been “inconclusive” after the third baseman was hit by a Jack Kochanowicz pitch in at present’s recreation with the Angels, Braves supervisor Brian Snitker informed reporters (together with Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Structure). Riley will bear an MRI tomorrow in the course of the Braves’ off-day, as Snitker stated the crew’s personal medical workers needs to completely discover Riley’s standing.
It might be seen as an ominous signal that the primary set of checks didn’t definitively say whether or not or not Riley had suffered a break or a fracture, but it surely additionally stands to cause that the membership would wish to be as cautious as potential with certainly one of its star gamers. Since we’re in the midst of August, a extra critical sort of damage might finish Riley’s season totally, together with each the common season and no matter postseason run the Braves would possibly but get pleasure from.
Simply attending to the playoffs has been much more troublesome than anticipated for Atlanta, as accidents and an unexpectedly common offense have contributed to a whole lot of inconsistency. The Braves are nonetheless 66-58 and in possession of the ultimate NL wild card slot, however they maintain solely a two-game lead over the Mets for that wild card berth, and the Phillies stay seven video games forward of Atlanta within the NL East race. After bursting out of the gates to an 18-6 report of their first 24 video games, the Braves have since posted a sub-.500 report (48-52) whereas weathering season-ending accidents to such stars as Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider. The remainder of Ozzie Albies’ 2024 marketing campaign is additionally in jeopardy attributable to a fractured wrist, and each Jorge Soler and Travis d’Arnaud have been out of the lineup in latest days.
Riley additionally missed shut to 2 weeks earlier this season attributable to an intercostal pressure, although the Braves made the curious determination to not really place him on the 10-day IL throughout that stretch, leaving the crew short-handed for an prolonged time frame. The damage contributed to a really gradual begin to the season for Riley, however his bat has come to life because the season has gone on, with 16 house runs and .275/.337/.531 slash line over his final 285 plate appearances.
Clearly there’s no simple means for the Braves to switch such All-Star ranges of manufacturing if Riley is going through a prolonged IL stint, and it’ll be even trickier to fill Riley’s spot at third base now that the commerce deadline has handed. Luke Williams took over on the sizzling nook at present, and such veterans as Leury Garcia and Zack Quick are at Triple-A as further depth.
As unsure as Riley’s state of affairs could also be, some damage reduction is on the horizon for the rotation, as Reynaldo Lopez was introduced because the starter for Atlanta’s recreation on Tuesday, when the Braves begin an essential collection in opposition to the Phillies. Lopez will return after lacking simply barely past the 15-day minimal after he was positioned on the IL attributable to forearm irritation on August 2.
Lopez’s begin on July 28 was lower quick by his damage, however checks revealed no structural injury. Whereas even less-serious sorts of forearm issues can linger, Lopez seems like he has been in a position to get well in fairly quick order, and he bought as much as 71 pitches in a Triple-A rehab outing final Tuesday.
Signed to a three-year, $30MM free agent deal final winter, Lopez has excelled in his return to beginning pitching. Although he has labored nearly solely as a reliever in the course of the 2022-23 seasons with the White Sox, Angels, and Guardians, Lopez has posted a 2.06 ERA over 104 2/3 innings for Atlanta this season. Between Lopez, Cy Younger Award candidate Chris Sale, and stable performances from Max Fried, Charlie Morton, and rookie Spencer Schwellenbach, the Braves have restricted the injury after Strider was misplaced for the 12 months.
