BRISTOL, Tenn. — The Braves’ injury hits just keep on coming.
With five starting pitchers already on the 60-day IL and Ronald Acuña Jr. sidelined for at least a couple more weeks with a lower right calf strain, slugging third baseman Austin Riley was placed on the 10-day IL on Monday due to a lower abdominal strain — his second trip to the injury list in less than a month.
Infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. — Atlanta’s No. 3 prospect — was promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett, as was infielder Jonathan Ornela, with outfielder Jarred Kelenic having been optioned back to Triple-A on Sunday.
Riley felt lower abdominal pain after he dived to tag Elly De La Cruz in the first inning of Atlanta’s 4-2 victory over the Reds in Sunday’s Speedway Classic Game at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Braves’ third baseman was replaced by pinch-hitter Luke Williams in the third inning. Riley on Monday said he initially felt the pain while diving for Austin Hays’ RBI single in the rain before the game was suspended on Saturday.
Braves manager Brian Snitker had been optimistic Sunday that Riley could avoid another IL trip.
“It was one of those things where he wasn’t sure about batting,” Snitker said. “I told him, if [the aggravated muscle] goes, you’re looking at the end of the year on the IL. Hopefully, it’s not bad.”
Riley was on the IL from July 12-25 with a lower abdominal strain. Alvarez Jr. played third while Riley was sidelined.
The injury bug has hit the Braves hard for a second straight season. Starting pitchers Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, Spencer Schwellenbach, Grant Holmes and AJ Smith-Shawver are all currently on the 60-day injured list.
Acuña was placed on the 10-day IL on Wednesday with a lower right calf strain. There’s a chance he could return during the second half of August. But the Braves will be cautious with the 2023 National League MVP, who has had both of his ACLs surgically repaired within the past four years.
