Injury updates: Ozzie Albies, pitchers progressing towards returns
When you think about the Atlanta Braves having the best record in baseball and (seemingly) the best offense on Earth, it's even more amazing to think about how they've won so many games despite losing key contributors to injury for large chunks of the season.
We've gathered some updates on how several of these injured Braves are progressing towards a return.
2B Ozzie Albies
RP Jesse Chavez
RP Dylan Lee
RP Nick Anderson
SP Kyle Wright
Bullpen roster crunch
It'll be interesting to see how Atlanta sorts the bullpen once some of these options make it back - Atlanta's bullpen has multiple lefties in AJ Minter and Brad Hand, and no one has remaining options other than Minter (and he's not going anywhere).
Atlanta's "core four" consists of closer Raisel Iglesias, setup men AJ Minter (LHP) and Joe Jiménez (RHP), and Pierce Johnson (RHP). Atlanta's used both Brad Hand (LHP) and Collin McHugh (RHP) in middle relief, with Michael Tonkin (RHP) serving as the long reliever out of the pen.
Those last three feel like the biggest threats to lose a roster spot if Atlanta gets back someone else they're eager to add to the bullpen mix, with mid-season acquisition Hand probably expendable if Lee returns and Collin McHugh probably safe unless the front office wants to eat the balance of this year's $5M salary. McHugh has a $6M option for 2024, his age 37 year, with a $1M buyout and it feels like a near certainty that Atlanta won't pick up the team option.
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