The Braves have been hit with yet another brutal injury as the Mets try to jump their rivals in the wild-card race.
Star third baseman Austin Riley is out 6-8 weeks with a fractured right hand, the Braves announced Monday, after he was struck by a pitch during the first inning of Sunday’s game against the Angels.
That timetable means Riley is likely going to miss the rest of the regular season, which ends on Sept. 29, and would be out for a potentially massive series against the Mets from Sept. 24-26.
Braves third baseman Austin Riley (r.) is hit by a pitch on Aug. 18, 2024. X/Bally Sports SouthEntering Monday, the Braves had a two-game lead on the Mets for the final NL wild-card spot.
The 27-year-old, an All-Star in 2022 and ’23, is hitting .256 with a .783 OPS, 19 home runs and 56 RBIs this season after hitting at least 33 home runs in each of his previous three seasons.
Atlanta has been ravaged by injuries this season.
Ronald Acuna, the reigning NL MVP, suffered a season-ending torn ACL in May.
All-Star right-hander Spencer Strider’s season was over after just two starts, undergoing surgery to repair a damaged UCL.
Austin Riley (r.) is examined by a Braves trainer after getting hit by a pitch on Aug. 18, 2024. X/Bally Sports SouthOutfielder Michael Harris, the 2022 NL Rookie of the Year, missed two months with a hamstring strain before returning last Wednesday.
Second baseman Ozzie Albies fractured his left wrist last month and was expected to be out eight weeks.
