Austin Riley and Pierce Johnson not ready to return for the Braves

The Atlanta Braves expect some major contributors to return from injury for this series against the San Diego Padres.

But not tonight.

The Braves released tonight’s lineup and lineup for the series opener against San Diego and there were two notable omissions: Austin Riley and Pierce Johnson.

Riley, Atlanta’s starting third baseman, left Monday night’s game against the New York Mets with “left side tightness” that first appeared during batting practice in New York. York and became more important after a third-inning takedown, which resulted in her removal from the match. After waking up sore Monday morning, Riley underwent an MRI that revealed irritation but no significant oblique injury. The decision was made not to place him on the injured list but rather to keep him out of action for a few days, with new Zack Short taking his place at third base. The idea was that a few days off combined with Thursday’s off day would allow Riley to return to play tonight.

Short, however, remains in the lineup for tonight’s series opener, with manager Brian Snitker saying Riley isn’t ready to be in the lineup yet.

Another player who will not return as expected is reliever Pierce Johnson. Initially go on injured reserve on May 4 with elbow inflammationThe curveball specialist said he felt “much better” earlier this week and was able to hold live batting practice against Zack Short and Chadwick Tromp on Wednesday. Given the positive report, Pierce himself expressed the thought that he might be able to return today, the first day he was eligible to come off the injured list.

Snitker explained that by waiting one more day from his live batting practice before being activated, Johnson could throw back-to-back days this weekend.

Given the next Atlanta calendar challenge – seventeen games in seventeen days – and the trend of giving its starters extra rest this season, it is possible that Atlanta uses an extra day to schedule additional rest for a starter before Johnson is activated. No. 5 starter Bryce Elder is lined up for Saturday night, but Atlanta could either move him back a day or choose to call up a prospect the day after Elder’s throws, then replace that starter with Johnson to reset the roster. bullpen at full strength.

The logistics of that would involve the reliever sent for Johnson — likely Ray Kerr, who still has minor league options — being replaced for a day with a minor league starter who would pitch in Atlanta instead of Triple-A Gwinnett. AJ Smith-Shawver is the announced starter for Gwinnett on Saturday and Dylan Sodd is scheduled for Sunday; both pitchers have major league experience and could be used by Atlanta to provide extra rest for Reynaldo López and Chris Sale. Both pitchers received extra rest for most of their starts – López did not pitch on standard rest (four days) all season, getting five or six days before every outing except one (and seven days for the other), while Sale pitched only once on regular rest, getting five or six before all other starts.