The Atlanta Braves received disappointing Austin Riley news before a game against the Chicago White Sox.
The Atlanta Braves have shown signs of improvement in August, posting a 9–7 record, but they remain well outside of playoff contention—and still without All-Star third baseman Austin Riley in the lineup.
Atlanta’s All-Star third baseman has been sidelined since August 3 after being placed on the injured list with a lower abdominal strain, the same injury that kept him out earlier in July. He appeared to reaggravate the issue shortly after returning, forcing another stint on the IL.
Riley had been having a productive season before the injury, batting .260 with a .737 OPS, 16 home runs, and 54 RBIs across 102 games.
Austin Riley Injury Update
In the nine games he appeared in before reaggravating the strain, the 28-year-old star struggled mightily, going 4-for-37 (.108 average) with a .451 OPS—signaling he may not have been at full strength.
Riley had been ramping up baseball activities over the past week in an attempt to return to the field, but after experiencing discomfort for a second straight day while running the bases, Atlanta decided to have him re-evaluated. He is scheduled to see a doctor on Wednesday, making a return in the near future unlikely.
“#Braves 3B Austin Riley felt lingering soreness from his abdominal strain when he worked out today. He’ll be checked out again by a doctor Wednesday, but it doesn’t look like he’ll return soon from IL,” wrote The Athletic’s David O’Brien.
#Braves 3B Austin Riley felt lingering soreness from his abdominal strain when he worked out today. He’ll be checked out again by a doctor Wednesday, but it doesn’t look like he’ll return soon from IL.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) August 19, 2025
Riley’s Health Critical to Atlanta’s 2026 Bounce-Back Hopes
With Riley set to continue missing time, and with the season likely lost for Atlanta, his health remains a key part of the team’s future. Any momentum he can build heading into next season is important—which is also the reasoning behind Ronald Acuna Jr.’s return and Chris Sale’s imminent activation.
Regardless, Riley remains a face of the Braves’ franchise. He’s appeared in seven seasons for Atlanta, earned two All-Star selections and two Silver Slugger Awards, and helped lead the organization to a World Series title in 2021.
He also owns the most lucrative contract in franchise history, having signed a 10-year, $212 million extension in August 2022.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Category: Baseball
