ATLANTA (AP) — The injury-stricken Atlanta Braves received another significant setback on Monday, as the team announced that third baseman Austin Riley will be sidelined for at least the remainder of the regular season due to a broken right hand. Riley sustained the injury on Sunday when he was hit by a 97 mph fastball from Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jack Kochanowicz during the first inning of the Braves’ 3-1 victory.
An MRI revealed that Riley has a Broken fracture in his hand. The prognosis is that he will be out for six to eight weeks, which means he will miss the rest of the regular season and potentially the beginning of the playoffs if the Braves manage to secure a postseason spot.
As of now, Atlanta holds a slim 1 1/2-game lead over the New York Mets for the final wild-card spot in the National League. They are set to face the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies in a crucial three-game series starting Tuesday. The Braves, who have clinched the division title for six consecutive years, now find their streak at risk due to a series of injuries that have left them seven games behind the Phillies.
With the Braves struggling to maintain their position in the standings, a wild-card berth appears to be the most viable path for a seventh consecutive postseason appearance. Currently, they are holding onto the last of the three wild-card spots, trailing behind the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Braves’ injury woes have been severe this season. They have already lost NL MVP candidate Ronald Acuña Jr. and pitching ace Spencer Strider to season-ending injuries. Additionally, several other key players have missed significant time, including second baseman Ozzie Albies, center fielder Michael Harris II, catcher Sean Murphy, and reliever A.J. Minter.
This latest injury to Riley adds to the mounting challenges facing the Braves as they attempt to navigate the final stretch of the season and secure a spot in the playoffs. The team’s ability to overcome these Broken setbacks will be crucial in determining their postseason fate.
https://apnews.com/article/braves-austin-riley-injury-bb7dc4d2a8a82a6456117b1c3bdbefff
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