Preliminary x-rays and a CT scan on Austin Riley’s proper wrist and hand have been “inconclusive” after the third baseman was hit by a Jack Kochanowicz pitch in at this time’s recreation with the Angels, Braves supervisor Brian Snitker instructed reporters (together with Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Structure). Riley will endure an MRI tomorrow throughout the Braves’ off-day, as Snitker stated the crew’s personal medical workers desires to completely discover Riley’s standing.
It could possibly be seen as an ominous signal that the primary set of assessments didn’t definitively say whether or not or not Riley had suffered a break or a fracture, nevertheless it additionally stands to cause that the membership would wish to be as cautious as attainable with one in all its star gamers. Since we’re in the course of August, a extra critical sort of harm might finish Riley’s season solely, together with each the common season and no matter postseason run the Braves may 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 number 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 file of their first 24 video games, the Braves have since posted a sub-.500 file (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 resulting from a fractured wrist, and each Jorge Soler and Travis d’Arnaud have been out of the lineup in current days.
Riley additionally missed shut to 2 weeks earlier this season resulting from an intercostal pressure, although the Braves made the curious resolution to not truly place him on the 10-day IL throughout that stretch, leaving the crew short-handed for an prolonged time period. The harm contributed to a really sluggish begin to the season for Riley, however his bat has come to life because the season has gone on, with 16 residence runs and .275/.337/.531 slash line over his final 285 plate appearances.
Clearly there’s no simple approach for the Braves to exchange such All-Star ranges of manufacturing if Riley is dealing with 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 scorching nook at this time, and such veterans as Leury Garcia and Zack Quick are at Triple-A as extra depth.
As unsure as Riley’s scenario could also be, some harm 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 necessary sequence towards the Phillies. Lopez will return after lacking simply barely past the 15-day minimal after he was positioned on the IL resulting from forearm irritation on August 2.
Lopez’s begin on July 28 was reduce brief by his harm, however assessments revealed no structural harm. Whereas even less-serious forms of forearm issues can linger, Lopez seems to be like he has been capable of get well in fairly brief order, and he received 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 virtually completely as a reliever throughout 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 harm after Strider was misplaced for the 12 months.
