Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies exited as we speak’s recreation within the ninth inning resulting from a left wrist harm. As famous by David O’Brien of The Athletic, Albies’s wrist was bent backwards when he tried to tag a runner out a second base amid a stolen base try. The Braves haven’t made an official transfer but, however supervisor Brian Snitker informed reporters (together with O’Brien) after the sport that Albies shall be positioned on the injured record and that whereas additional analysis vital, the outlook on the harm is “not good.”
The lack of Albies is one other devastating blow to a Braves membership that has already seen each reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. and right-handed ace Spencer Strider endure season-ending surgical procedure. With Albies set to hitch that duo in addition to middle fielder Michael Harris II and star lefty Max Fried on the shelf, the Braves will limp in the direction of the commerce deadline defending a four-game lead within the NL Wild Card race with out 5 of their greatest stars. Whereas Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez have stepped up this season as front-of-the-rotation arms and Jarred Kelenic has carried out admirably since being thrust into an on a regular basis function because the membership’s middle fielder rather than Harris, there are not any apparent options for changing Albies on the membership’s energetic roster.
Even common offensive manufacturing could be an enough alternative for Albies on the plate, because the 27-year-old has been coping with a little bit of a down season this yr. In 89 video games this season, the infielder has slashed a roughly league common .255/.308/.403 throughout 390 journeys to the plate. Even so, the membership’s dearth of high quality infield depth signifies that the Braves are more likely to be scrambling for options in Albies’s absence, significantly if it proves to be a prolonged one as Snitker implied.
Earlier this yr, infielder Zack Brief was tapped to deal with third base rather than an injured Austin Riley and rose to the decision successfully. Whereas he has expertise at second base as properly, he’s slumped badly in bench function since Riley’s return to the lineup and sports activities a slash line of simply .077/.250/.077 because the begin of June. That might lead the Braves to look towards the minor leagues. The membership turned to David Fletcher in a utility function earlier this yr, however he’s not on the 40-man roster and has begun trying to transform to pitching on the Double-A degree, suggesting he’s unlikely to be known as as much as change Albies. One possibility at the moment on the 40-man could be infielder Luke Williams, though his profession .220/.280/.287 slash line within the majors actually leaves one thing to be desired.
Maybe probably the most thrilling strikes the Braves may make, barring a commerce to enhance the membership’s total infield combine, could be the promotion of prime infield prospect Nacho Alvarez. Alvarez is ranked because the membership’s #5 prospect by MLB Pipeline and has lit up the scoreboards within the minor leagues this yr. In 75 video games cut up between the Double- and Triple-A ranges this yr, the 21-year-old has slashed an eye-opening .295/.398/.420 whereas going 21-for-24 on the basepaths. One potential hiccup in that plan could be Alvarez’s full lack of expertise at second base, although the membership may all the time plug him in at shortstop and shift veteran Orlando Arcia, who performed 50 video games for the Braves on the keystone in 2022, over to the fitting aspect of the infield alongside first baseman Matt Olson.
It’s potential {that a} prolonged absence for Albies may immediate the Braves to discover the infield market, significantly if the membership feels Alvarez isn’t prepared for his massive league debut. Items similar to Amed Rosario of the Rays and Brandon Drury of the Angels are among the many veteran leases who may very well be made accessible this summer time, though the Rays have gone 6-3 over their final 9 video games to place themselves again into competition whereas Drury has suffered by means of an abysmal season on the plate this yr. With clear wants within the beginning rotation and outfield as properly, it’s potential at Atlanta brass choose as an alternative to depend on their inner choices on the keystone whereas Albies is injured, as an alternative working so as to add an outfield who can change Acuna whereas taking strain off of Kelenic and Adam Duvall, each of whom have been compelled into on a regular basis roles by accidents after beginning the season as platoon companions.
