He had just returned to the Braves’ starting lineup Friday night after three months on the sidelines with a broken left foot. Saturday night, second baseman Ozzie Albies left again with injury, suffering a fractured right pinkie finger while sliding into second base. It happened in the fourth inning of the Braves’ 4-3 win over the Phillies at Truist Park.
The word from the Braves is that Albies will not need surgery. He will miss the remainder of the regular season, which ends October 5th. Whether Albies can return for any part of the postseason is an open question.
“I hate it for him,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said Saturday night. “My heart breaks for him. After everything he went through to get back here and then have that happen, God, it’s horrible for him. And he was just having so much fun and being old Oz. He was playing ball, what he loves to do. It’s a shame.”
The Braves will again turn to rookie Vaughn Grissom, who performed well in Albies’ absence until he returned Friday. Grissom now returns to anchor second base for the time being.
The Braves on Sunday wrap a weekend series against the Phillies. Entering play Sunday, Atlanta trailed the New York Mets by one game in the NL East race.