We are at the point in the season where it is imperative that everybody get and remain healthy. The Braves have welcomed a few pieces back in recent weeks, and Travis d’Arnaud is the latest to return to the starting lineup tonight after missing the last two series.
We also received some good news when it comes to Mike Soroka. He will start tomorrow night for the Rome Braves as he begins his rehab assignment. The hope is that he can eventually contribute towards the very end of the season and into the playoffs, but that remains a long shot, given everything he’s gone through over the last two years.
A player that Braves fans definitely should expect to return before the end of the season, though, is Ozzie Albies. He took another step in the right direction today, as he was spotted out on the field with a glove in hand getting some work in.
Ozzie Albies can be activated from the IL soon, but it’s going to be a little while before he actually makes his return. Once he’s eventually cleared to play, he will still need some time in the minors before the Braves bring him back up to the major-league club. With Vaughn Grissom performing well at second base, Albies won’t be rushed. I don’t expect to see him back in Atlanta until mid-September, but that’s plenty of time for him to get acclimated before the postseason.
Finally, Max Fried and Kyle Wright are both expected to start later this week. Fried remains on the concussion IL, but he seems the most likely candidate to pitch against Jacob DeGrom on Thursday. If not, it could be Wright, who missed his last start with arm fatigue. Either way, both are expected to pitch this week provided there are no setbacks.
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