Braves Officially Lose Austin Riley for Remainder of Regular Season

The Atlanta Braves delivered the news that none of us wanted to hear.

And it is as bad as we feared.

Third baseman Austin Riley , who left last night's series finale against the Los Angeles Angels after being hit with a pitch in the wrist , will be going on the injured list with a "right hand fracture". In the announcement, the Braves gave Riley a "six-to-eight weeks" timetable for his absence, which would take him through the end of the regular season and potentially into October.

Riley, 27, has been the team's most consistent hitter behind MVP candidate Marcell Ozuna, batting .256 with 19 homers and 56 RBI while flashing Gold Glove-caliber defense at third base.

Riley's initial testing, done in Los Angeles via a stadium MRI and a CT scan at a local facility, was "inconclusive". But after the team flew home, Riley was given a MRI by team doctors that found the break.

It is just another in a long line of injury absences that has plagued this Braves roster this season. Every starting position player except for Ozuna and first baseman Matt Olson has missed time in 2024, with the team's depth being perpetually tested.

Related: Next Man Up: Braves' Options to Replace Austin Riley at Third Base

The team declined to officially place Riley on the injured list today, undoubtedly waiting until they can determine what is the best course of action to replace him in the lineup and on defense. We wrote a story this morning discussing some possible options from both within and outside the organization, including International League Player of the Week Alejo López, former big league third baseman Brian Anderson, and potential waiver claim Gio Urshela.

Reynaldo López is back

This update wasn't all bad news, however. Starter Reynaldo López was activated off of the injured list and is scheduled to start tomorrow's series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The corresponding move for López being activated was to option reliever Jimmy Herget to Triple-A Gwinnett.

The Braves are not expected to continue the practice of pushing back starters and giving rest days to the rotation. Said manager Brian Snitker, as relayed by Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution :

“We’re just staying on turn,” Snitker said. “We’re not manipulating this thing anymore. We’re gonna let this thing ride and when guys get the extra rest – because I say, this next series is a big series, (but) it’s not any more important than the next one we play after that, quite honestly. Every game’s important, we gotta keep these guys as regular as possible, because right now, when they’ve pitched on regular rest and all, they’ve been really good.”