The Atlanta Braves are in danger of missing the postseason for the first time since 2017.
With 11 games remaining in the regular season, the Braves are two games behind the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Wild Card standings. However, help is on the way.
Tuesday night, second baseman Ozzie Albies, out since late July with a fractured left wrist, began his rehab assignment with the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate in Gwinnett. He sustained the injury on July 21 on a tag play at second base in the ninth inning of a 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Albies went 2-for-3 at the plate, with three RBI and a walk in four plate appearances. He singled in the first inning, and in the seventh, Albies sent a shot over the left-field wall for a three-run home run that gave Gwinnett a 4-0 lead.
On Monday, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said the plan is for Albies to play in Gwinnett on Tuesday and Wednesday before rejoining the active roster on Friday when the Braves begin a three-game series in Miami against the Marlins.
Since he still feels discomfort when batting from the left side, the switch-hitting second baseman is batting exclusively right-handed.
On Tuesday, he only faced left-handed pitching, which he has dominated all season. As a right-handed batter against lefties, Albies has batted .343 with a .912 OPS in 101 plate appearances.
Albies, a three-time All-Star, has played 90 games this season. The Braves are 47-43 with him in the lineup, 34-27 without him.
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