The Braves lost 3-1 to the Brewers on Aug. 5, but the bigger loss was Austin Riley to the IL. Jurickson Profar homered, but the offense sputtered again.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when you thought the season couldn't get more challenging, it did. The Atlanta Braves' rough stretch continued Tuesday with a dispiriting 3-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, but the result on the field was overshadowed by even bigger news off it: All-Star third baseman Austin Riley has been placed on the 10-day injured list with an abdominal strain, dealing a massive blow to an already sputtering lineup.
The Braves have now lost seven of their last ten games and sit a season-high 14 games back of a playoff spot.
The game started with a flash of hope as Jurickson Profar launched the first pitch he saw for a leadoff home run, giving Atlanta an instant 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, that was the beginning and end of the Braves' offensive output. Brewers starter Quinn Priester was masterful, shutting down the Atlanta bats for seven innings, allowing just three total hits. The decisive blow came in the fourth when Milwaukee rookie Isaac Collins took Erick Fedde deep for a three-run homer, erasing the Braves' slim lead and sealing their fate. Fedde was solid otherwise, but with no run support, it wasn't enough. The Braves stranded six runners, and Ozzie Albies saw his five-game hitting streak snapped in a night of offensive frustration.
The loss stings, but losing Austin Riley for any amount of time hurts far more. The third baseman was placed on the 10-day IL with an abdominal strain, removing the team's most consistent power threat from the middle of the order. Through 102 games, Riley had amassed 16 home runs and 54 RBI, providing production the team simply cannot afford to lose. With the offense already struggling to score runs, Riley's absence creates a gaping hole and puts immense pressure on the rest of the lineup to step up.
In response to Riley's injury, the front office made a flurry of moves. Infielders Nacho Alvarez Jr. and Jonathan Ornelas were called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to provide much-needed depth. Alvarez, a highly-touted prospect, gets another chance to prove he belongs in the big leagues, while Ornelas offers versatility across the infield. In a corresponding move, outfielder Jarred Kelenic was optioned to Gwinnett. These transactions underscore the team's current reality: navigating a difficult 47-63 season by testing its organizational depth and looking for players who can contribute immediately.
With Riley out and the team in a freefall, the rest of this season becomes a test of character and a chance for young players to prove their worth. All eyes will be on Joey Wentz as he takes the mound against the formidable Freddy Peralta, with fans desperately hoping for a spark—any spark—to break the cycle of losses. It's a tough time to be a Braves fan, but the focus now shifts to finding positives and building for the future.
