Braves' Brian Snitker Announces Austin Riley, Chris Sale Update on Monday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Aug 18, 2025 5:57 PM ET

The Atlanta Braves have spent a majority of the 2025 regular season shorthanded, missing multiple former All-Stars due to injury, notably Austin Riley and Chris Sale.

Riley is currently on the injured list for the second time this season with the same issue—a strained lower abdominal muscle. The Braves’ two-time All-Star third baseman has not appeared for the team since August 4.

Sale suffered a fractured rib cage on his left side after making a diving play during a game against the New York Mets in June and has been sidelined since.

His absence from the starting rotation made a thinned group even weaker, as he had been Atlanta’s best pitcher since the start of the 2024 season, which saw him take home the NL Cy Young Award.

Brian Snitker Provides Update on Austin Riley, Chris Sale

Ahead of a series against the Chicago White Sox beginning on Monday, manager Brian Snitker provided an update on both Riley and Sale.

"#Braves’ Sale will make one more (third) rehab start, then be activated barring no setbacks. Austin Riley still felt a little something in his strained abdominal muscle when he ran the bases Sunday, Snitker said," wrote David O’Brien of The Athletic.

#Braves’ Sale will make one more (third) rehab start, then be activated barring no setbacks.

Austin Riley still felt a little something in his strained abdominal muscle when he ran the bases Sunday, Snitker said.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) August 18, 2025

Riley and Sale Key to Braves' Long-Term Success

Although Atlanta sits far from playoff contention, owning a 56–68 record with just under two months left in the regular season, Chris Sale has emphasized that he intends to return regardless—driven by his competitive nature and a desire to ramp up his workload for next year.

The 36-year-old veteran has been outstanding since joining Atlanta, posting a 2.43 ERA and a 23–7 record across 44 starts. However, durability has long been his biggest challenge, ultimately leading to the end of his tenure with the Boston Red Sox, who traded him to Atlanta before the 2024 season.

With Riley locked into Atlanta long-term after signing the largest contract in franchise history—a 10-year, $212,000,000 extension signed in August 2022—his recovery will be crucial for the team’s future success.

The Braves are seemingly playing it safe with Riley, whose return is impending once his condition is pain-free. Over 102 games for Atlanta, Riley has batted .260 with a .737 OPS, 16 home runs, and 54 RBIs.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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