Atlanta Braves Austin Riley Exits St. Louis Game With Abdominal Tightness

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley exited games on July 9 and another recent game against the St. Louis Cardinals due to abdominal tightness, raising concerns among fans and the team about his health. Riley, a two-time All-Star and key offensive player for the Braves, was replaced by pinch hitters David Fletcher and Luke Williams in those respective games. Despite the injury scare, Riley has been highly durable, playing in all 93 games this season and maintaining a .274 batting average with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs. The Braves have not reported any specific incident causing the injury, describing it as abdominal tightness and indicating that further medical evaluation is ongoing. His potential absence could impact the Braves' infield rotation and offensive power, especially as the team navigates injuries and pursues a postseason berth. The organization is closely monitoring his condition before deciding on his availability for upcoming games.