6 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
6 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
6 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
6 months agoAtlanta Braves second baseman
Ozzie Albies (wrist) said he doesn't need to wear a brace on his left wrist anymore and that his return is trending toward a mid-to-late September date after his initial eight-week prognosis. Albies took fielding practice for the first time on Friday and continues to swing a bat in the cages, but he's not hitting yet. The 27-year-old second baseman is still on the mend from a fractured left wrist but is nearing the end of his recovery. He's a must-start fantasy asset when he's healthy and on the field, but the reality is that Albies is going to have very little time to make an impact for fantasy managers down the stretch. Albies will be returning to a .258/.310/.407 slash line with a .717 OPS, eight home runs, 46 RBI and eight stolen bases in his 361 at-bats in 2024.
Whit Merrifield will move back to more of a super-utility role when Albies is cleared to rejoin the Braves' starting lineup.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: 929 The Game - Grant McAuley
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