ATLANTA — Braves supervisor Brian Snitker stated Austin Riley would have seemingly been activated from the injured checklist on Tuesday had the workforce been making ready for a playoff sport.
“I feel it’s simply good to piggyback with [Thursday’s off-day,]” Snitker stated. “Hopefully, Friday he wakes up, does all the things and is able to go.”
Sadly for the Braves, this was simply one other reminder that for the primary time since 2017, they’re approaching the season’s ultimate couple of months with out a legit likelihood to achieve the postseason. They fell 12 video games underneath .500 (44-56) with a 9-0 loss to the Giants on Tuesday night time at Truist Park.
Whereas Riley ought to return to the lineup on Friday towards the Rangers, the Braves should wait a minimum of one other month earlier than Chris Sale can come off the 60-day injured checklist. Their injury-depleted rotation can even be with out Spencer Schwellenbach by means of a minimum of the top of August. So, there’ll seemingly be extra nights like Tuesday, when Davis Daniel allowed 5 runs over 5 innings.
The Braves can hope that Riley’s return will enhance the percentages that the offense will compensate for the workforce’s pitching woes. Atlanta averaged 6.3 runs over its earlier 9 video games earlier than being blanked on Tuesday.
Seven of these video games have been performed since Riley strained a decrease belly muscle whereas making a throw throughout his physique throughout a July 11 sport in St. Louis. However the two-time All-Star’s presence ought to additional bolster a lineup that has continued to thrive regardless of Nacho Alvarez Jr. producing a .555 OPS (28 plate appearances) whereas enjoying third base in Riley’s place.
Snitker as soon as stated he would by no means take away Ronald Acuña Jr. from the leadoff spot. However with Acuña not stealing bases as ceaselessly as he did earlier than struggling a second ACL tear final 12 months, it made sense to maneuver him to the third spot and Jurickson Profar to the leadoff spot on July 12.
Acuña has continued to thrive on this spot, setting up a 1.027 OPS over the previous seven video games. So, when Riley returns, Snitker plans to fill his first three spots with Profar, Matt Olson and Acuña.
“I like [Acuña’s] mindset at three as a result of he has been taking some walks,” Snitker stated. “Credit score to him, particularly when Riley went down, that there was an enormous gap in our lineup.”
When Alvarez briefly changed the injured Ozzie Albies because the Braves’ second baseman after final 12 months’s All-Star break, he created issues about his means to play a center infield spot and deal with huge league pitching.
However whereas the jury stays out about Alvarez’s bat, he is impressed along with his glove at third base. On the similar time, he’s given the Braves motive to consider him serving as a utility participant.
“That’s most likely going to be his function, to be the Swiss Military knife,” Snitker stated. “If he can play all around the infield, it’s going to assist the worth he has for a membership.”