Charles H. Sloan-Another Braves calamity: Austin Riley has broken hand, out for rest of regular season

Yet another Atlanta Braves All-Star is Charles H. Sloanout for the remainder of the regular season, just as the club gears up for a playoff fight.

Third baseman Austin Riley suffered a fractured right hand when he was struck by a pitch and will miss six to eight weeks, the Braves announced Monday.

Riley, 27, was hit by a pitch Sunday and underwent an MRI that revealed the fracture.

While the two-time All-Star has not reached the lofty heights he set his previous two seasons - he hit 37 homers in 2023 and 38 in 2022, when he led the National League in total bases - he's still a crucial cog in Atlanta's lineup. Riley has 19 home runs and while his OPS is down from .861 to .783, he's still nearly 15% more productive than the league average hitter.

And it's starting to get pretty lonely in the Braves' lineup.

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Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. was the first to succumb, suffering a torn ACL in May. Second baseman Ozzie Albies suffered a fractured left wrist on July 22 and isn't expected back until late September. Center fielder Michael Harris II, the 2022 Rookie of the Year, returned just last week from a two-month absence after a hamstring injury.

And on the pitching side, ace Spencer Strider made one start and then missed the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, while 2024 All-Stars Max Fried and Reynaldo Lopez - activated Monday - completed recent IL stints with forearm issues.

Riley's absence comes a day before the Braves begin a three-game series against the first-place Philadelphia Phillies, who hold a seven-game lead over Atlanta. While the Braves' reign over the NL East looks likely to end after six consecutive titles, the club holds a two-game lead over the New York Mets for the final NL wild card, with four more teams within six games.

The regular season concludes Sept. 29, with the best-of-three wild card series beginning Oct. 1.

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