Initial x-rays and a CT scan on Austin Riley’s right wrist and hand were “inconclusive” after the third baseman was hit by a Jack Kochanowicz pitch in today’s game with the Angels, Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters (including Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution). Riley will undergo an MRI tomorrow during the Braves’ off-day, as Snitker said the team’s own medical staff wants to fully explore Riley’s status.
It could be viewed as an ominous sign that the first set of tests didn’t definitively say whether or not Riley had suffered a break or a fracture, but it also stands to reason that the club would want to be as careful as possible with one of its star players. Since we’re in the middle of August, a more serious type of injury could end Riley’s season entirely, including both the regular season and whatever postseason run the Braves might yet enjoy.
Just getting to the playoffs has been a lot more difficult than expected for Atlanta, as injuries and an unexpectedly average offense have contributed to a lot of inconsistency. The Braves are still 66-58 and in possession of the final NL wild card slot, but they hold only a two-game lead over the Mets for that wild card berth, and the Phillies remain seven games ahead of Atlanta in the NL East race. After bursting out of the gates to an 18-6 record in their first 24 games, the Braves have since posted a sub-.500 record (48-52) while weathering season-ending injuries to such stars as Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider. The rest of Ozzie Albies’ 2024 campaign is also in jeopardy due to a fractured wrist, and both Jorge Soler and Travis d’Arnaud have been out of the lineup in recent days.
Riley also missed close to two weeks earlier this season due to an intercostal strain, though the Braves made the curious decision to not actually place him on the 10-day IL during that stretch, leaving the team short-handed for an extended period of time. The injury contributed to a very slow start to the season for Riley, but his bat has come to life as the season has gone on, with 16 home runs and .275/.337/.531 slash line over his last 285 plate appearances.
Obviously there’s no easy way for the Braves to replace such All-Star levels of production if Riley is facing a lengthy IL stint, and it’ll be even trickier to fill Riley’s spot at third base now that the trade deadline has passed. Luke Williams took over at the hot corner today, and such veterans as Leury Garcia and Zack Short are at Triple-A as additional depth.
As uncertain as Riley’s situation may be, some injury relief is on the horizon for the rotation, as Reynaldo Lopez was announced as the starter for Atlanta’s game on Tuesday, when the Braves start an important series against the Phillies. Lopez will return after missing just slightly beyond the 15-day minimum after he was placed on the IL due to forearm inflammation on August 2.
Lopez’s start on July 28 was cut short by his injury, but tests revealed no structural damage. While even less-serious types of forearm problems can linger, Lopez looks like he has been able to recover in pretty short order, and he got up to 71 pitches in a Triple-A rehab outing last Tuesday.
Signed to a three-year, $30MM free agent deal last winter, Lopez has excelled in his return to starting pitching. Though he has worked almost exclusively as a reliever during 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 Young Award candidate Chris Sale, and solid performances from Max Fried, Charlie Morton, and rookie Spencer Schwellenbach, the Braves have limited the damage after Strider was lost for the year.
Would be fun to beat PHI with a lineup that includes former PHI draft pick: Luke Williams (3B) – and castaway, Whit Merrifield at 2B.
Then I wake up.
I can see them taking 2 from the Phils then getting swept by the Nats.
This is our grim reality
no chat tonight?
All they do is teach throw as hard as you can.
Riley’s future is fine and he’s paid enough to withstand an injury. He should have got out of the way. People get hit everyday in baseball.
Waaah players get hit while standing over the plate waah
It happened 70 years ago too.
Nacho Alvarez was as productive as the Merrifield scrub. The Phillies cut his ass for a reason.
Merrifield has a .375 on base percentage with Atlanta and is playing really good second base. If the Braves get a wild card he will have been a big part of it
Smacky the moron w/another bad take. Alvarez was horrible while he was up. Still can’t catch up to a fastball at AAA and the Braves have given up on him at SS. He’s back at his original position — 3B. Trade bait now. Too bad he showed so poorly on the MLB roster.
I see u don’t actually watch the games. Just act like a fan!♂️
Austin Riley should take a few days off as a precautionary measure.
No Riley, no playoff berth! Sorry Braves fans, you are running out of talent!
Now that an injury to Riley has been confirmed:due to his being struck by a pitched ball; Jack Kochanowicz should immediately be suspended by MLB.. He should remain suspended for the entire length of time that Riley is unable o play at the MLB level. The game has evolved over the years and the stakes are much higher now. The days of: “Oh Well, It’s just part of the game” are no no longer valid. Players earn a considerable amount of money and when their ability to perform and contribute is affected by a (supposedly) professional MLB Pitcher’s inability to control his thrown ball; leaving them out of their team’s plans for contending for a post-season playoff berth. More lost revenue. And what penalty is imposed on the team and the pitcher who threw the pitch? NOTHING!!
MLB needs to address and take regulatory action on HBP injuries.