Braves Austin Riley Injury Discomfort Delays Season Return

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley continues to experience soreness and discomfort from a strained lower abdominal muscle, delaying his return from the injured list with no clear timetable for reactivation. Despite running bases and attempting workouts, Riley still feels pain, especially during running drills and diving plays, which originally caused the injury. Manager Brian Snitker and medical staff will evaluate him further to determine his status, but with the Braves out of playoff contention, there is little urgency to rush his return. In Riley's absence, Nacho Alvarez Jr. has been filling in at third base, showing some promise with an on-base percentage of .321 but still struggling with strikeouts. Riley has been sidelined since early August, and while he has a solid season with a .260 batting average, 16 home runs, and a .737 OPS, the team is managing his recovery carefully to avoid further setbacks. For now, Riley's return remains uncertain as he continues to manage the injury.