The Atlanta Braves will begin the unofficial second half of the season without third baseman Austin Riley. The Braves placed the two-time All-Star on the 10-day injured list with a strained right abdomen Saturday.

But hours before facing the New York Yankees in the series opener to begin the second half Friday, the Braves had positive injury updates on Riley.

MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reported Riley participated in batting practice Friday afternoon. Bowman added that the third baseman was hopeful he would return within a week.

The Athletic’s David O’Brien also had positive details on Riley. O’Brien reported Riley rehabbed at his home in Memphis during the All-Star break. After returning to Atlanta, Riley told reporters he is “feeling much better.”

Riley hasn’t been an All-Star the past two seasons like he was in 2022 and 2023. This season, his batting average is higher than it was in 2024, but his OPS has declined again.

But the Braves could still really use Riley back in the lineup sooner rather than later. When the third baseman is right, he’s one of the top players at his position in the National League.

In addition to two All-Star nominations, Riley has earned two Silver Slugger awards in his career during the 2021 and 2023 campaigns. In 2023, Riley hit .281 with an .861 OPS, 37 home runs, 97 RBI and 117 runs.

From 2021-23, Riley averaged 36 home runs, 99 RBI and 99 runs while batting .286. This season, the third baseman is slashing .274/.324/.441 with 14 home runs, 48 RBI and 51 runs in 93 games.

Without Riley on Saturday and Sunday before the All-Star break, Nacho Alvarez started at third base for the Braves. Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a run scored on Saturday but 0-for-3 with a strikeout and walk on Sunday.

Alvarez is set to start at third base and bat seventh for the Braves on Friday versus the Yankees.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/braves as Braves Get Good News on Injured 3B Austin Riley: Report.

Injury Struggles for the Braves

The Atlanta Braves have faced a challenging season marked by injuries and inconsistent play. Amidst this turmoil, glimmers of hope are emerging, particularly concerning the recovery of infielder Austin Riley. His potential return could be the spark the team needs to elevate its performance and reignite playoff aspirations.

Positive Signs from Austin Riley

Recent updates suggest that Riley is making significant strides in his recovery from an abdominal injury. The promising news was shared via social media, where it was noted that Riley has been actively running in the outfield and navigating the bases for over 20 minutes. This development indicates he is on track for a return to the lineup.

“Austin Riley has been running in the outfield and running around the bases for the past 20-plus minutes. I would expect him to be activated from the injured list when he’s eligible on Tuesday,” remarked an MLB reporter, underscoring the optimism surrounding his imminent activation.

Impact of Riley’s Return

Riley’s return comes at a critical juncture for the Braves, who have struggled to find consistency this season. As one of the key offensive players, his presence in the lineup is vital. He has the ability to energize the team and contribute significantly in high-pressure situations, making his activation a pivotal moment for the Braves.

Looking Ahead

As the Braves navigate the remainder of the season, the focus will be on maximizing their roster’s potential while managing injuries effectively. Riley’s anticipated return could not only boost the team’s morale but also enhance their chances of competing for a playoff spot. With every game becoming increasingly important, the Braves are eager to see their star infielder back on the field, ready to make an impact.

The post Braves get big update on Austin Riley’s injury rehab appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Atlanta Braves are having a tough year. The club has dealt with injuries, as well as some disappointing play. Atlanta is getting some good news though about the health of infielder Austin Riley.

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

“Austin Riley has been running in the outfield and running around the bases for the past 20-plus minutes. I would expect him to be activated from the injured list when he’s eligible on Tuesday,” MLB.com writer Mark Bowman posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday.

Riley is nursing an injured abdomen. The infielder is hitting .274 this season, with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs. He last recorded stats on July 11, in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Braves are hoping to salvage a rough year

Atlanta has lost games at a disappointing pace this season. The Braves fell to 11 games under .500, for the first time since the 2017 campaign. Atlanta is just 43-54 on the campaign, heading into a game on Sunday with the New York Yankees.

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In recent days, the Braves engaged in a trade with the Texas Rangers. Texas acquired former Braves pitcher Jose Ruiz, as well as cash, for pitcher Dane Dunning. Dunning has a 3.38 ERA this season working for the Rangers.

With the MLB trade deadline approaching on July 31, Atlanta may not be done. The Braves are reportedly interested in dealing second baseman Ozzie Albies. Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is also a hot trade candidate, although he has said consistently he wants to stay in Atlanta.

“Atlanta is expected to listen to trade offers for second baseman Ozzie Albies, center fielder Michael Harris, and catcher Sean Murphy, but not until this winter,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote, and reported by Newsweek. “They are letting teams know that DH Marcell Ozuna, closer Raisel Iglesias, and reliever Pierce Johnson are all available. Ozuna, who has 10-and-5 rights, can veto any trade.”

The Braves have six losses in their last 10 games, heading into Sunday.

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Related: MLB rumors: Skip Schumaker emerges as candidate for Braves, Rangers head coach gigs

Related: Braves rumors: Atlanta listening to trade offers for Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris, but there’s a catch

The Atlanta Braves started the second half of the 2025 season far better than they started the first half with a dominant win over the Yankees on Friday. The team was seemingly firing on all cylinders, but it was a bit of a different lineup than we are used to seeing. While Jurickson Profar’s return has played a role in the lineup change, the absence of Austin Riley has also forced the Braves to change things up.

Riley suffered an abdominal injury right at the end of the second half and that removed a pretty big cog from the middle of the Braves’ lineup. While Riley hasn’t had a great season so far, he has remained a real threat in Atlanta’s lineup and had looked much better in July with a .919 OPS in 10 games before he got hurt. With Riley out, Profar has been in the leadoff spot while Ronald Acuña Jr. has been batting third.

Riley gave an update on his injury on Friday and while it was largely good news, it also brought with it some questions as to whether or not manager Brian Snitker was going to go back to Acuña Jr. batting leadoff once Riley returns.

Austin Riley appears to be progressing well in his recovery, but the Braves’ lineup may remain odd upon his return

So the good news is that Riley is feeling much better than he was. Not only did Riley say that the injury was relatively minor, but he also said that the All-Star break gave him an opportunity to get some intense and focused treatment that seems to have paid dividends. While there is no timeline for Riley’s return, he did say that this injury was milder than the oblique injury that kept him out of 14 games last season which gives hope of a fairly swift return.

However, Braves fans may want to not get their hopes up about the lineup going back to normal upon Riley’s return. Acuña Jr. said after the game that while he “finally feel(s) like a power hitter”, he also thought that Riley would “probably resume his post” once he returned from the injured list.

While Acuña Jr. may think that, Snitker seemed to disagree and said, “I don’t know about that. I kind of like (Acuña) there. I like that top three right there, I think that’s pretty good.” Snit also acknowledged that he always thought of Acuña Jr. as a #3 hitter and that he thought Riley wouldn’t care where he hit in the lineup upon his return either way.

This is certainly a far cry from when Snitker admitted years ago that batting Acuña Jr. at leadoff was something he should have embraced long before he actually did. Perhaps Snitker never actually changed his mind and just went with what was working or maybe he views Acuña Jr. as a different sort of player now after his injuries. Whatever his reasoning, it seems as though the Braves’ lineup may remain permanently changed upon Riley’s return.

More Braves News from House That Hank Built

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley spent the All-Star break rehabbing in Memphis, per report. He says he is already feeling much better.

#Braves’ Austin Riley (lower abdominal strain) rehabbed back home in Memphis area during break, said he’s feeling much better and that this isn’t nearly as severe as the oblique strain he had a year ago. — David O’Brien (@DOBrienATL) July 18, 2025

Riley was placed on the injured list on July 12th due to a strained right abdomen. Fortunately, he took batting practice on Friday and will likely be activated next week.

More Braves News:

A solid outing from Spencer Strider and an even more impressive play by Ronald Acuña Jr. were the highlights of Friday’s 7-3 win over the New York Yankees.

MLB News:

The Milwaukee Brewers placed right fielder Sal Frelick on the 10-day injured list due to a left hamstring strain. The move is retroactive to July 15th.

The Arizona Diamondbacks placed second baseman Ketel Marte on the restricted list after his home was burglarized.

The Colorado Rockies placed infielder Thairo Estrada on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left thumb. The move is backdated to July 11th.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Ryan Burr will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. He made just two appearances this season.

New York Mets reliever Max Kranick will undergo elbow surgery, but it has not been determined if he will require the full Tommy John procedure.

Washington Nationals right-hander Derek Law will undergo season-ending surgery on his flexor tendon. His recovery time is nine to ten months.