To say Austin Riley has fought through a difficult 2026 season with the Atlanta Braves would be underselling it to say the least. Running an OPS below .700 for the first time in his career, Riley never really found his groove this season. Despite all those maddening at-bats, Riley has the opportunity to get hot at the right time and make everyone forget about the year-long struggles.
As the Braves head toward postseason baseball, a rejuvenated Riley would go a long way toward ensuring Atlanta's October lasts longer than one Wild Card series. The beauty of postseason baseball is that everyone's stats reset to zero. One hot month can erase a season's worth of damage. Perhaps Riley can find a way to contribute when the games matter most and make everyone forget his regular season.
Riley Rocket 🚀#LocalFordDealer pic.twitter.com/hegTs0i8tE
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 25, 2026
Austin Riley has the chance to put a disappointing season behind him, and become the Braves' postseason difference maker
It's been easy to cling to any positive stretch of games from Riley in 2026, but this time his latest adjustment could prove enough. Riley homered in back-to-back games against the Reds this week, something he attributes to relaxing his shoulder while at the plate. Perhaps this is the "feel" Riley has been searching for all season, and he may have discovered it at the perfect time.
Atlanta has leaned on their pitching staff most of the season, but that does not mean that they have to win in the postseason exclusively on their run prevention. The Braves' lineup is still as talented as any in the field, and if Riley is heating up, Atlanta's World Series odds skyrocket.
Troubling strikeout rate aside, Riley has still hit the ball hard plenty this season. The problem is that he hasn't made enough contact or barreled the ball consistently enough. Riley has shown us that he can produce a big moment in the clutch in previous postseasons, and he can do it again if he can just cut down the strikeout rate this October.
The main goal over the weekend for the Braves is to get to Tuesday healthy. However, the other key storyline to watch is how Austin Riley looks at the plate over the final two games. If Riley is hitting the ball with authority over the weekend, there is a real chance he becomes that pivotal hitter not named Baldwin, Acuña, Olson, or Harris. Additionally, having another right-handed bat outside of Ronald Acuña Jr. would be massive. Let's hope Riley can look the part against Miami, then carry that momentum into the postseason.
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