7 months agoAtlanta Braves second baseman
Ozzie Albies (wrist) will return from the 10-day injured list on Friday in time for the team's series opener in Miami against the division-rival Marlins. Because Albies was still dealing with discomfort in his wrist when swinging from the left side, the switch-hitting infielder is going to hit exclusively from the right side upon his return to the big leagues. The 27-year-old is recovered from a fractured left wrist that he suffered at the end of July. Because of all the time that Albies has missed and the fact that he isn't 100 percent, the Braves could choose to ease him into the lineup and could even have him platoon at the keystone with
Whit Merrifield as the team looks to get back into a wild-card spot in the National League. Albies was hitting .258/.310/.407 with eight home runs, 46 RBI and eight steals in 361 at-bats before injuries his wrist this summer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
7 months agoAtlanta Braves second baseman
Ozzie Albies (wrist) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday and rejoin the big-league roster this weekend. Once Albies returns, it would make sense to move utility man
Whit Merrifield to left field. Moving him to third base is also an option, but infielder
Gio Urshela's glove at the hot corner provides a lot of value. The 27-year-old Albies hasn't played in a big-league game since July 21 due to a fractured left wrist and was struggling to swing from the left side as recently as last week. It's unclear if the switch-hitting infielder will only bat from the right side of the plate when he returns to the Braves, possibly this weekend against the division-rival Miami Marlins. Fantasy managers should temper expectations with the three-time All-Star when he returns to finish up the 2024 regular season.
UPDATE: Albies is scheduled to play rehab games with Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday and Wednesday and could join the Braves in Miami for their series opener against the Marlins on Friday.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
7 months agoAtlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said on Friday that he's unsure if second baseman
Ozzie Albies (wrist) will play again this year. When asked if Albies would return and hit only right-handed, Snitker said they haven't had that conversation with him. The Braves could really use Albies back, as they entered played on Friday sitting a game back of the division-rival New York Mets for the final wild-card spot in the National League. The 27-year-old is trying to recover from a fractured left wrist that he suffered in late July, but he's making slow progress and still feels it in his wrist when he swings from the left side. If he is unable to return this season, veteran utility man
Whit Merrifield should see most of the starts at the keystone, but he doesn't offer near the offensive upside that Albies does. It may be too much to overcome not having both Albies and
Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) for most of 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
7 months agoAtlanta Braves switch-hitting second baseman
Ozzie Albies (wrist) isn't feeling great while swinging from the left side right now, according to manager Brian Snitker. However, Albies is doing well swinging from the right side as he recovers from a fractured left wrist. It remains to be seen if the Braves will be comfortable bringing the 27-year-old back to the big-league roster in the middle of September as they try to hang onto the final wild-card spot in the National League. Albies last played for the Braves on July 21 and could struggle at the plate when he returns to the majors, especially if he's unavailable to hit from the left side. Utility man
Whit Merrifield (foot) has seen more action at the keystone in Atlanta of late with Albies still out, but he fouled a ball off his foot on Friday and could miss some time.
Luke Williams figures to be the next man up.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
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