Riley Out 6-8 Weeks Due to Hand Fracture After HBP
The Atlanta Braves have been dealt another blow to their injury-ridden season. Third baseman Austin Riley is expected to miss the next six to eight weeks after sustaining a fracture in his right hand. Riley's injury was confirmed following an MRI, which was necessitated after he was hit by a pitch from Los Angeles Angels reliever Jack Kochanowicz.
The loss of Riley comes at a critical juncture in the Braves' season. His performance this year has been solid, batting .256/.322/.461 with 19 home runs and 26 doubles over 110 games. His numbers saw significant improvement since May 2024, with a more impressive line of .275/.339/.531, up from a sluggish start where he was batting .228/.295/.353 heading into June.
The timeline for Riley's recovery means that if he is on the quicker end of the six to eight weeks estimate, he might be able to rejoin the team during the final week of the regular season. This potential return could coincide with the Braves' three-game home series against the New York Mets starting on September 24. However, should his recovery extend to the full eight weeks, Riley could miss the remainder of the regular season and may even be unavailable for the initial rounds of the postseason.
Injuries Plague Braves' Lineup
Riley's injury is the latest in a series of unfortunate events for the Braves. Ace pitcher Spencer Strider made just two starts before a UCL tear ended his season. All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies has been sidelined for nearly a month due to a wrist fracture, while Ronald Acuña Jr.’s season was cut short by an ACL tear in early June. Furthermore, Max Fried, who returned from a bout with forearm neuritis, has struggled to regain his form since his comeback.
The impact of these injuries has been palpable. The Braves are currently holding onto a slender two-game lead over the Mets for the third and final NL wild-card spot. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants are trailing the Braves by four games, and the St. Louis Cardinals are five games back in the wild-card race. The Braves also face the daunting task of closing a seven-game gap on the first-place Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East—a division they have dominated, clinching the title for the past six seasons.
Next Man Up
In Riley's absence, Luke Williams is expected to assume the role of primary third baseman. Williams’s ability to step into this critical position will be crucial as the Braves navigate the remainder of the season, striving to maintain their playoff hopes alive amid a succession of injuries.
As the Braves face these challenges, their resilience will be severely tested. The combination of existing talent striving to fill the gaps and the hope of stars returning from injuries will shape their path forward. Riley’s potential comeback, if he manages to recover on the quicker end of the timeline, could offer a significant boost for a team desperate to stay competitive in both the wild-card and divisional races. Yet, the uncertainty surrounding his and other key players' recoveries means that the Braves' season remains precariously balanced.