Injury updates to three starters in the Atlanta Braves lineup

Injuries suck, but they happen…here’s an update of how they’re doing

Month six in the MLB season, but it’s really like month eight if you’re counting voluntary workouts and Spring Training.  September can be an awful month for many reasons and injuries are definitely one of them.  2017 has felt like an injury filled season for the Atlanta Braves.

From Freddie Freeman’s wrist injury that set him back months to Matt Kemp’s lingering hamstring issues, the Braves have had their fair share of injuries.

As we sit here on the afternoon of September 20, 2017, the Braves have three starters missing from their starting lineup.  The Braves take on the Washington Nationals in game two of their three game series.  Not a good series to have guess missing…well, I guess if you’re playing meaningful baseball.

The Braves lineup for tonight looks like this…

1. Ozzie Albies 2B
2. Johan Camargo 3B
3. Freddie Freeman 1B
4. Nick Markakis RF
5. Kurt Suzuki C
6. Adonis Garcia LF
7. Lane Adams CF
8. Dansby Swanson SS
9. Lucas Sims P

You can see from the lineup above, Ender Inciarte, Matt Kemp and Tyler Flowers are all missing from this lineup.  And their not missing because of a night off.

Let’s get an update from these big names…

Matt Kemp – he’s dealing with left hamstring tightness.  Kemp exited the game on September 15 and we haven’t seen him since.  He’s considered day-to-day, but the veteran outfielder may sit out the rest of the season.

It may be smart to sit the 32-year-old the rest of the season.  He’s played in 111 games this season with the Braves with a slash line of .279/.320/.468 with 19 home runs and 63 RBIs.

Tyler Flowers – he’s dealing with a bruised left hand injury.  Flowers’ has been out since September 13 with the hand injury and recent reports said that his hand wasn’t responding to the treatment as quickly as they had hoped.

He’s considered day-to-day right now, but Brian Snitker has told reporters it’s looking like a Thursday return.

The 31-year-old has played in 90 games for the Atlanta Braves in 2017 with a slash line of .286/.380/.449 with 11 home runs, 15 doubles, 47 RBIs and 40 runs scored.  In 2017, he’s started 79 games at catcher.

Ender Inciarte – he’s dealing with a left thumb soreness.  Inciarte exited the game last night and is currently listed as day-to-day.  This thumb is becoming an issue for Ender…remember when he slid into first base a week ago and seemed to jam it?  If not the video is below.

After grounding out in the bottom of the 4th inning last night against the Nationals, the thumb seemed to have been aggravated once again.  Maybe not on that swing, but sometime.  He exited the game.

The 26-year-old All-Star has played in 146 games for the Braves in 2017 with a slash line of .304/.349/.406 with 11 home runs, four triples, 23 doubles, 56 RBIs, 89 runs scored and 22 stolen bases.  He’s had a heck of a season with the Braves.

Here’s a crazy idea for you

All right…I’ve been thinking about this the entire day so I’ll go ahead and lay it out there because I’m sure someone else has thought of this.

Matt Kemp and Ender Inciarte should sit the rest of the season.  The Braves have 13 games left in the 2017 season and both seem to have significant enough injuries for them to sit — maybe not Ender, but for this, let’s say so.

Okay, here it is…the Atlanta Braves should call up Ronald Acuna!!

Why not?!  Give him the final 12 games of the season (not counting tonight’s game) and let’s see what the kid’s got.  It will give him a little experience and give Braves fans something to tune in for over the final two weeks of the season.

He’s assigned to the Arizona Fall League and the Peoria Javelinas, but that season doesn’t start until October 10th.

Next: Making a case for 2018 managerial candidates

I’m counting the Braves 40-man roster on their site, and I’m only counting 39 players on that roster.  One spot available….come on Coppy!!