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The Atlanta Braves have stayed relatively healthy in the 2024 MLB season, one of the few teams who can claim that midway through May. The injury bug finally got to the Braves on Sunday when All-Star third baseman Austin Riley was pulled from a 4-3 loss to the Mets.
Riley felt tightness on his left side during batting practice on Sunday but kept things quiet. He felt it again during an at-bat in the third inning and was removed in the bottom of the fourth. He’ll be reevaluated on Monday after the team returns to Atlanta from New York.
Braves manager Brian Snitker is hopeful Riley can play this week. He explained that he didn’t want to take any changes with Riley and was happy the star slugger spoke up.
“I’m glad Austin said something. I don’t want him going through something like that and then take a big swing and — it’s smart on his part to mention that. A cool night, damp and all that stuff. One game’s not worth that,” Snitker said, per the Associated Press. “We don’t mess around with this stuff.”
Riley hasn’t been on the injured list since his rookie season in 2019. The two-time All-Star played at least 159 games each of the last three years, with the Braves making the playoff each season. Riley has been the epitome of health since his debut and has rewarded the Braves even further with his play on the field.
Riley has fallen on hard times at the plate this season. He has a .245 batting average with an OPS slightly above .700. After averaging 36 home runs over the last three seasons, Riley has three in 37 games this year. He’s on pace to hit 13 homers.
Braves surviving Strider loss, avoiding domino effect
The Braves suffered a significant blow in April when it was announced that ace Spencer Strider was out for the season after surgery to repair his damaged elbow. Atlanta has navigated through that for over a month and avoided more long-term injuries to its stars.
Austin Riley’s ailment might not be as severe as Strider’s or Sean Murphy’s – who’s been out since Opening Day with an oblique strain – but his exit on Sunday is enough to worry Braves fans.
There is some optimism though given Riley’s strong history of health and the quick recovery of Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo over the weekend. Nimmo left Saturday’s game with what appeared to be a similar injury to Riley’s. Nimmo was not in the lineup on Sunday but entered the game late and clubbed a walk-off home run to beat the Braves.
The Braves have enough firepower to get through a few weeks without Riley in the lineup. His defense has improved tremendously though and will be missed if he has to rest. It’s also never ideal to have an MVP candidate on the shelf. Riley has finished in the top seven in NL MVP voting three years running.
Atlanta is in the midst of a busy stretch that sees them play 23 games in 24 days. There’s not much time to get days off without missing games. Six Braves position players, Riley included, have played every game this season.
Atlanta remains consistently good because its roster is consistently healthy. The Braves are banking on that being the case again in 2024, but Austin Riley’s injury could muddy the waters and give Atlanta some headaches as the summer months roll in.
The hope is Riley avoided serious injury and will be available within a week. Monday’s update will provide a clearer timetable.
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