The Braves are hopeful that outfielder Ender Inciarte will be ready for activation early next week, manager Brian Snitker tells reporters including MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. Inciarte is working to recover from a hamstring strain.
When the injury initially occurred one month ago, it was estimated at a four to six week recovery timeframe. Inciarte is already hitting and running, so it seems he’s at the early end of the spectrum.
That’s great news for the Atlanta organization, particularly since the organization just lost two top reserve players to injury. Optimally, Inciarte would get at least a decent run of live action at the tail end of the regular season to ramp up for the playoffs.
Trouble is, there’s only a brief window left. And the Braves must balance the desire to get the outfielder reps — and assess his readiness to contribute — with the need to avoid further injury. As Snitker puts it, “reports are good” on Inciarte’s progress as he ramps up, “but what he does in drills is a lot different than taxing it and playing in games.”
No matter what happens with Inciarte, the Braves are well covered in the outfield. In addition to star Ronald Acuna, the club has welcomed back Nick Markakis from his own lengthy rehab stint and added speed-and-glove switch-hitter Billy Hamilton. With lefty bench bat Matt Joyce also in the mix for a postseason roster spot, along with right-handed hitters Adam Duvall and Austin Riley, it’ll be interesting to see how the outfield logjam is resolved if Inciarte is able to get back and show he’s healthy.
Inciarte coming back is a good problem to have,
I wouldn’t say there’s a logjam, exactly. Most of these players other than Acuna and maybe Markakis are best suited for platoon roles or late inning defensive replacement.
NM looks great after coming back off the IL. batting a nifty .444
I think Riley will be the back up 3rd and 1st basemen plus in the outfield
Riley is a starter
…in 2020!
If he becomes more consistent, then maybe.
Against lefty’s he is against righties is Kakes and Joyce
Right now, Riley can’t handle top tier pitching like he will see in the playoffs. He can’t seem to hit a slider, and pitchers have figured that out
What I dont understand is when he knew the fastball was coming he was all over it. So, it may not last long…but he should just sit up there waiting only for sliders and be ready for them and just let FBs pass. At least he would know what’s coming until they recorrect. I dunno but he looks really bad and very much shows us that Donaldson needs to be here.
False. Every ball player will always tell you, sit fastball and adjust to everything else. Doing the opposite just makes you worse.
Long term that is correct. But if you are trying for instant, short-term, difference-making success, this strategy would absolutely work. He would be better off for the playoffs looking slider every pitch with how often he’s going to be seeing them.
Or he could learn to lay off every slider he sees and be ready to blast the fastball.
Yea, and that gets so much easier with playoff caliber pitching.
Make your online wagers now. Braves going to be World Series Champions in 2019!
Inciarte, please go to talk to Kakes and have him show you how to hit right off the IL at this time of the year.
We could use Ender, Riley is an out vs elite pitching and Duval is either red hot or not much. Issue is how can you carry ender and billy Hamilton for playoffs
Inciarte back in time to start 1 playoff game and go 1/7 as the Braves masters of the sweep get swept out of the playoffs once again.
When was the last time they were swept out of the playoffs?
Asking since you said once again.