Riley to miss 6-8 weeks with right hand fracture
This browser does not support the video element.
ATLANTA -- Austin Riley could return at some point during the postseason. But with Riley set to miss the remainder of the regular season, there¡¯s reason to wonder if the injury-ravaged Braves will even make the playoffs.
Riley learned his fate on Monday, when an MRI exam showed a fracture in his right hand. Atlanta's third baseman is projected to miss six to eight weeks. The National League Wild Card Series begins six weeks from Tuesday.
Can the Braves reach the playoffs anyway? To win a seventh straight National League East crown, they would need to overcome the first-place Phillies¡¯ seven-game lead. But they do hold a two-game lead over the Mets in the battle for the NL¡¯s third Wild Card spot.
This browser does not support the video element.
Considering all of the significant injuries suffered this year, it¡¯s remarkable that the Braves remain in playoff contention. Spencer Strider made one healthy start before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery. Ronald Acu?a Jr. tore the ACL in his left knee on May 26.
Sean Murphy and Michael Harris II both missed two months because of an injury. Ozzie Albies will end up missing nearly two months before he returns from a left wrist fracture in a couple weeks. The pitching staff has also dealt with the absences of A.J. Minter, who may miss the remainder of the year after undergoing hip surgery this week, and the All-Star duo of Max Fried and Reynaldo L¨®pez, who have both spent time on the injured list after the break.
The fact the Braves are still in the mix indicates just how strong the roster was before it was besieged by injuries. Manager Brian Snitker¡¯s club also has to be credited for its resiliency.
But there¡¯s reason to wonder if the team¡¯s breaking point occurred Sunday, when Riley was hit by Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz¡¯s 97-mph fastball. Initial tests were inconclusive. But a sense of doom seemed to exist even before the veteran slugger returned to Atlanta to undergo the MRI exam on Monday.
Riley has hit .256 with 19 homers and a .783 OPS this year. He missed two weeks in May with an oblique strain and didn't really get going until the middle of June. Riley hit .292 with 16 homers and a .942 OPS over his past 57 regular-season games. This injury ended his bid for a fourth straight 30-homer season.
The Braves do not have an obvious internal replacement for Riley. Luke Williams finished the game at third base on Sunday, and Brian Anderson could come up from Triple-A Gwinnett to handle the position.
No. 4 prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr. is currently dealing with pneumonia. He went 3-for-30 when he came up to Atlanta after the All-Star break. Alvarez has gone 6-for-37 with 10 walks since rejoining Triple-A Gwinnett.
Alejo Lopez has been leading off and playing third base for Gwinnett. He produced a .639 OPS over 74 games for Cincinnati from 2021-23. Most of his playing time was accumulated in 2022.
External options aren¡¯t going to be too attractive this time of year. But there is at least some familiarity with Luis Guillorme, who began the season on Atlanta¡¯s roster. He was recently designated for assignment by the Angels.