ATLANTA — Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies broke his left wrist late in Sunday’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals and is expected to miss about eight weeks.
Albies got hurt trying to catch a throw when Michael Siani stole second in the ninth inning. Siani slid into Albies as the infielder reached for the ball, bending back his glove hand at an awkward angle.
Albies crouched in pain on the field and held his left wrist. He was replaced at second base by Atlanta teammate Zack Short.
Following their 6-2 defeat, the Braves announced X-rays revealed a left wrist fracture and Albies is expected to be sidelined for approximately eight weeks.
The three-time All-Star is hitting .255 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs, almost exclusively from the No. 2 spot in the batting order.
It’s another major blow to Atlanta’s lineup, after reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. went down with a season-ending knee injury in May.
Earlier in the day, the Braves put All-Star pitcher Max Fried on the 15-day injured list with forearm neuritis, a nerve inflammation, in a move retroactive to Thursday.
Seeking their seventh straight NL East title, the Braves trail first-place Philadelphia by 8 1/2 games but hold the league’s top wild card.
Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies suffered a fractured wrist during a game against the Washington Nationals, and is expected to be sidelined for approximately eight weeks. The injury occurred when Albies was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning, forcing him to leave the game immediately.
Albies, who has been a key player for the Braves this season, will be greatly missed during his time on the injured list. The 24-year-old infielder has been a consistent performer at the plate and in the field, and his absence will undoubtedly be felt by the team.
In his absence, the Braves will likely turn to a combination of players to fill the void at second base. Utility infielder Johan Camargo is one option, as is prospect Ehire Adrianza. Both players have experience at second base and could provide solid defense and some offensive production in Albies’ absence.
The Braves will also need to rely on their depth to weather the storm without Albies in the lineup. They currently sit atop the NL East standings, but will need to continue winning games in order to maintain their position in the competitive division.
Albies’ recovery timeline puts his return sometime in mid-September, which could potentially impact the Braves’ playoff push. However, the team is hopeful that he will be able to return to form once he is healthy and back on the field.
In the meantime, Braves fans will have to wait patiently for Albies’ return and hope that the team can continue to perform well in his absence. It will be a challenging stretch without one of their star players, but the Braves have shown resilience throughout the season and will look to overcome this setback as they push towards the postseason.