As we flip the calendar to the last regular-season month of the baseball season we focus on five storylines to watch with the Atlanta Braves.
It’s hard to believe that we’re already in the last month of the baseball’s regular season, but here we are, and the Atlanta Braves have set themselves up for an exciting finish.
With the Atlanta Braves up 5.5 games on the Washington Nationals in the NL East, obviously we’ll be watching to see if they can hang onto the division lead, especially with seven games left against the Nats.
But there are plenty of other storylines to watch as well in baseball’s final month of the regular season.
5. Who will get healthy and have an impact?
Maybe the most important storyline in September will be the health of Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis.
While Rafael Ortega, Matt Joyce, and Billy Hamilton have filled in beautifully, the Atlanta Braves are hopeful to get their regulars back before the regular season ends.
The latest update on both of them was encouraging.
#Braves’ Markakis has begun throwing, a big step considering the broken wrist was his throwing hand. No timetable for return. Also, Inciarte (hamstring) is taking some swings and progressing steadily.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) August 30, 2019
There is obviously no timetable for either, but ideally, they return with at least a week left in the regular season to knock some of the rust off before the postseason.
Of course, Austin Riley factors into this as well. He’s currently on a rehab assignment and will likely join the Atlanta Braves once Gwinnett’s season is over.
He’s hitting .250 with 8 strikeouts and no home runs in nine games with Gwinnett.
The Atlanta Braves are also hoping to avoid any further injuries down the stretch after receiving a flurry of them in July and August.