Two hours before Friday night’s Atlanta Braves game with the Mets, we found out that the Braves Gold Glove center fielder won’t be ready for the NLDS.
According to the Tweet from the AJC’s Gabe Burns, the Atlanta Braves haven’t officially ruled Ender Inciarte out for the NLCS, but he will miss the NLDS.
Last week the Braves seemed hopeful Inciarte would return Tuesday in Kansas City. On Tuesday they pushed it back to yesterday, and according to David O’Brien in the Athletic, Skipper Brian Snitker felt he’d get Inciarte back Friday.
After a workout before Friday’s game, Inciarte felt some soreness in his thigh. When he told the Snitker and Alex Anthopoulos, they decided not to risk more serious injury by putting him on the roster.
When Billy Hamilton left Friday’s game after injuring his thumb on a slide, replacement center fielders looked as scarce as unicorn teeth. However, Hamilton’s injury wasn’t serious, and Kevin McAlpin Tweets Hamilton is back in tonight’s lineup.
Ender Inciarte no podrá estar e la Serie Divisional pero podría participar en la Serie de Campeonato. https://t.co/sXuK85Ef4R
— Mari Montes 🇻🇪 ⚾️🐾🫓🎵🏳️🌈 (@porlagoma) September 28, 2019
The latest setback is yet another punch in the gut for Inciarte and culminates a forgettable year for one of the best-liked players on the roster.
Inciarte’s rollercoaster season
The Atlanta Braves hoped Inciarte could reverse his history of slow starts and gave him the leadoff job to begin the season. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.
Inciarte’s April produced two homers but a weak .233/.307/.662 line and Ronald Acuna took over the leadoff spot in early May. The Braves shuffled Inciarte around the bottom half of the lineup, but his offense remained missing in action.
Two weeks into May he injured his lower back and spent the next 64 days on the IL. He returned on July 18, but an 0-4 performance made him a ninth-inning replacement for the next two games.
He got another start on July 21 and over the next 22 games batted a scorching .310/.430/.549/.980, that included six doubles, a triple, and three homers, as well as three stolen bases in three attempts. In the August 16 game against the Dodgers. Inciarte doubled off Kenta Maeda and scored on a Matt Joyce double.
When he got to the dugout, he reported pain in his right hamstring, later diagnosed as a grade two strain. He thought he’d still get a postseason shot until the setback on Friday.
That’s a Wrap
Good news arrived in a couple of forms over the past three days. First Dansby Swanson is killing the baseball again; in the last three games, he’s 8-15 including a double and a stolen base. On Friday, Acuna looked ready to play while taking batting practice and doing a light, pre-game warm-ups. His presence and Swanson’s resurgence make the Atlanta Braves lineup looks as good as it can get for the NLDS.
I saw speculation from someone who should know, that Inciarte’s absence guaranteed Adam Duvall a roster spot. I can’t understand anyone suggesting the everyday player roster is some kind of mystery.
The Atlanta Braves have 17 healthy everyday players, and I expect ten spots reserved for pitchers. Postseason play has lots of time off; if six relievers aren’t enough, the Braves have bigger problems; that leaves 15 spots.
Unless Atlanta carries four catchers, John Ryan Murphy doesn’t get a spot. Rafael Ortega can’t hit his weight, barring another injury, he won’t get a spot. Unless math’s changed and no one told me, that leaves 15 players to fill 15 spots. What’s the mystery?
Maybe the Braves will shock us, but I doubt it.