Fantasy News

• Braves' Austin Riley: Stays hot Friday

  Rotowire Jun 22, 2024

  Riley went 2-for-4 with two walks, a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's 8-1 win over the Yankees. The 27-year-old slugger has flipped the switch in June. Riley has at least one extra-base hit in six of his last seven games, batting a blistering .545 (12-for-22) over that stretch with four doubles, four homers, nine runs and nine RBI. After a rough, injury-plagued start to the season, the power surge has pushed his slash line up to .251/.324/.420.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Power surge continues

  Rotowire Jun 17, 2024

  Riley went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a second run scored in Sunday's loss to the Rays. The third baseman erupted out of a slump to homer in three straight games against Tampa Bay, racking up six hits and eight RBI in the three-games weekend series. Even with the power surge, Riley has only six home runs and 28 RBI on the season, but he's topped 30 homers and 90 RBI in each of the past three seasons. The 27-year-old is capable of going on a tear that would have him back on his usual pace before the end of June.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Cranks three-run homer

  Rotowire Jun 16, 2024

  Riley went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run and two walks in Saturday's 9-2 victory against the Rays. Riley broke the game open in the seventh frame with his three-run shot to center field that gave Atlanta an 8-1 lead. It was the second straight contest with a long ball for the third baseman following a 23-game homerless stretch (and a 45-game span during which he went deep only once). Riley may finally be getting his power on track, but with just five long balls through 233 plate appearances, he'll be hard-pressed to reach 30 homers for the fourth straight season.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Belts fourth homer

  Rotowire Jun 14, 2024

  Riley went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two runs scored and three RBI in Friday's win over Tampa Bay. Riley hit an RBI double in the first inning before hammering a two-run homer in the second. It was just his fourth homer of the year and first since May 3, snapping a 23-game drought. During that homerless streak, he posted a brutal .462 OPS. Riley is now slashing .230/.296/.357 with 17 extra-base hits and 23 RBI through 54 games.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Struggles continue Thursday

  Rotowire Jun 14, 2024

  Riley went 0-for-5 with a strikeout in Thursday's win over the Orioles. The third baseman's been dropped down to fifth in the order, even with lefty-hander Cole Irvin on the mound for Baltimore on Thursday, but it hasn't helped wake up Riley's bat. His last homer came May 3, and in 16 games since he returned from an intercostal strain he's slashing just .161/.212/.194 with two RBI and a 4:17 BB:K. Riley's track record says he will heat up at some point this summer, and his Statcast profile suggests there's a great deal of bad luck contributing to his numbers this season -- he's in the 91st percentile in max exit velocity, 90th percentile in bat speed and 82nd percentile in hard-hit rate.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Bats second in return

  Rotowire May 28, 2024

  Riley went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Monday's loss to the Nationals. Seeing his first game action since May 12, Riley looked a bit rusty but appeared fully recovered from an intercostal strain. The third baseman hit second in the order with lefty Mitchell Parker on the bump for the Nats, and that could be his new home in the batting order against southpaws with Atlanta shuffling things around in the wake of a season-ending knee injury for Ronald Acuna. Through 167 plate appearances this year, Riley is slashing a disappointing .238/.311/.377 with three homers and 18 RBI.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Returns after two-week absence

  Rotowire May 27, 2024

  Riley (side) will start at third base and bat second in Monday's game against the Nationals. Riley wound up missing just over two weeks (and 13 games) of action with a nagging left intercostal strain but is finally ready to rejoin Atlanta's lineup. He will be asked to carry even more of a load following Ronald Acuna's season-ending ACL tear.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Absence continues as expected

  Rotowire May 26, 2024

  Riley (side) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Friday that Riley likely won't return to action until Monday versus Washington, so it's no surprise the third baseman will sit for the 13th straight game due to an intercostal strain. Zack Short will receive another start at the hot corner in the series finale at Pittsburgh.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Sitting as expected

  Rotowire May 25, 2024

  Riley (side) isn't in Atlanta's lineup for Saturday's game against the Pirates. Manager Brian Snitker said Friday that Riley is likely to sit out until Atlanta begins its series against the Nationals on Monday, so the third baseman's absence Saturday isn't too surprising. Zack Short will continue starting at third base while Riley misses his 12th consecutive game.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Likely to return Monday

  Rotowire May 24, 2024

  Atlanta manager Brian Snitker noted Friday that Riley (side) is likely to remain out until Monday's series opener against the Nationals, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Riley has been sidelined due to a left intercostal strain he sustained May 12 against the Mets. Despite the length of his absence, Atlanta did not place the 27-year-old third baseman on the 10-day IL in hopes he could return sooner, but Riley appears on track to rejoin the lineup following a weekend series against the Pirates. Prior to his injury, Riley was slashing .245/.319/.388 with eight doubles, three home runs and 18 RBI over 163 plate appearances.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Still not starting

  Rotowire May 24, 2024

  Riley (side) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Riley will miss an 11th consecutive start Friday with a left intercostal strain. Despite the lengthy absence, it seems Riley is close to returning after swinging a bat Tuesday. Zack Short will start at third and bat ninth Friday.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Missing another start

  Rotowire May 23, 2024

  Riley (side) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs. He'll remain on the bench for a 10th consecutive game while he continues to heal up from a left intercostal strain. Atlanta had initially viewed Riley as day-to-day when he departed an April 12 game against the Mets with the injury, but the club likely would have placed him on the 10-day injured list had they known the issue would have kept him out for more than a week. Riley was able to exhibit a sign of progress by taking swings on the field Tuesday, but it's not clear if he'll be on track to rejoin the starting nine during this weekend's three-game series in Pittsburgh.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Sitting again Wednesday

  Rotowire May 22, 2024

  Riley (side) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs. Though Riley took a step forward in his recovery from a left side strain by taking swings Tuesday, he'll remain on the bench for the ninth game in a row Wednesday. Provided he didn't experience any setbacks from Tuesday's activity and is continuing to show daily improvement, Riley still looks like he'll avoid the injured list, and his return to the lineup could happen any day.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Remains out of lineup

  Rotowire May 21, 2024

  Riley (intercostal) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Cubs. Riley hasn't played since May 12 because of left intercostal inflammation. Atlanta has resisted putting its third baseman on the 10-day injured list so far, and at this point, it would appear the team will continue to wait things out. He was cleared to take soft swings in the batting cage Tuesday, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, so Riley at least appears to be making progress in his recovery. Zack Short will again be at the hot corner Tuesday.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Out again for first game

  Rotowire May 20, 2024

  Riley (side) is not in the lineup for the first game of Monday's doubleheader versus the Padres. Riley hasn't played in more than a week due to intercostal inflammation in his left side. He hopes to try swinging a bat soon but would appear to be at least a few days away from returning to the lineup. Zack Short will again be at third base for Atlanta in Monday's afternoon tilt.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Should swing soon

  Rotowire May 19, 2024

  Riley is out of the lineup against the Padres but hasn't had any issues with his intercostal injury Sunday, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Riley hasn't seen the field since May 12 due to intercostal inflammation but appears to be progressing in his recovery, and he could soon resume taking swings. The 27-year-old may be able to avoid a stint on the injured list but still seems to be at a couple days away from rejoining the lineup.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Still sidelined Sunday

  Rotowire May 19, 2024

  Riley (side) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres. The 27-year-old said Saturday that he's feeling better, but he's still absent from the lineup for a fifth straight game due to left side inflammation. A trip to the injured list has yet to be discussed for the third baseman, but that could change if Riley doesn't show more improvement soon. Zack Short will receive another start at the hot corner Sunday for Atlanta.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Missing fifth straight

  Rotowire May 18, 2024

  Riley (side) isn't in Atlanta's lineup for Saturday's game versus San Diego. Riley said Saturday that he is feeling better, per Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, but he has yet to resume swinging a bat. The 27-year-old infielder also noted that the team has not talked with him about a potential move to the injured list; however, Riley wouldn't say that he would be back in time for the start of Atlanta's upcoming series with the Cubs on Tuesday. Zack Short, who will start at third base and bat seventh Saturday, has served as Atlanta's third baseman since Riley went down and should continue to do so until the slugger recovers.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Sitting in third straight game

  Rotowire May 15, 2024

  Riley (side) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. He'll miss out on a third straight start while he manages left side inflammation, but with the benefit of some added rest in the form of a team off day Thursday, Riley could be healthy enough to rejoin the starting nine for Friday's series opener versus the Padres. Zack Short will make another start at third base in Riley's place Wednesday.

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• Braves' Austin Riley: Remains out Tuesday

  Rotowire May 14, 2024

  Riley (side) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs. Atlanta received good news when an MRI revealed merely inflammation in Riley's left side rather than a strain. However, he is likely still sore and will miss a second straight start. With a scheduled off day coming Thursday, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Atlanta hold Riley out until Friday just to be safe. Zack Short is getting another start at third base Tuesday.

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