Braves to be without OF Jorge Soler for all of NLCS?
The Atlanta Braves will be taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the upcoming National League Championship Series, and they may be without a key contributor throughout that showdown with a World Series berth on the line.
ESPN's Buster Olney reported Wednesday it's "likely" Atlanta right fielder Jorge Soler will miss the entire NLCS after he tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of Tuesday's NL Division Series clincher against the Milwaukee Brewers:
According to The Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Braves manager Brian Snitker strongly suggested on Thursday that Soler won't be available through the NLCS even though he is vaccinated against the coronavirus.
"We've got to approach it like I don't know if he'll be here for the NLCS," Snitker explained. "That's how we have to approach it. Until he shows up and is cleared and does everything that MLB needs him to do, we're going to look like it's like he's not going to be here."
Cristian Pache took Soler's spot on the active roster and will begin the NLCS available for the Braves. Shortstop Dansby Swanson will likely continue to hit leadoff, and Guillermo Heredia could stay in center field as part of a necessary defensive restructuring.
Soler, meanwhile, joined the Braves from the Kansas City Royals ahead of the trade deadline and hit a combined .223 with 27 home runs and 70 RBI during the regular season.
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