If there has been one obvious hole in the Atlanta Braves' lineup, it is a slow start for third baseman Austin Riley. Wednesday's finale against the Miami Marlins offered evidence that this has come to an end, with Riley hitting the ball with authority, going 2-for-4 with a home run that helped push the Braves on top and hand the team an important early-season series win. For Atlanta, this was a great sign and could be the final piece needed to fall to arguably have the league's best offense.
Heading into the weekend series, the Braves had scored the second-most runs in the National League with 106; they sit fourth in the league in home runs and first in hits. This was all accomplished without Riley contributing at the levels expected, hovering just above the Mendoza line and becoming a source of frustration.
If this week's spark truly is the infielder turning the corner, the Braves will have the most complete offense in the league. Drake Baldwin is producing at an MVP level while Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, and Mauricio Dubon are all delivering beyond expectations. Riley pulling his weight and putting up the type of numbers the veteran is capable of would push this team from a fun early story to a legitimate World Series contender.
Austin Riley Showing Signs of Returning to Form and Completing Scary Braves' Lineup
In the 2023 season, Riley collected 179 hits and drove in 97 runs as a dominating presence in the middle of Atlanta's order. This version of Riley gives the Braves legitimate hopes of contending with a loaded Los Angeles Dodgers roster and making another deep postseason run. The rotation and bullpen are already in place and should only get better as a trio of injured starters is still expected to return.
Riley, being the best version of himself upon his return, completes the Braves lineup and gives the franchise a dominating unit that should never be out of any game. Atlanta fans can't help but feel optimistic about what they have seen in the first weeks of the season, given the damage done without two of the team's best hitters living up to expectations.
While Ronald Acuna Jr. is rounding into form, it wasn't only Riley that didn't deliver in the first days of Atlanta's season. The 2023 MVP is now playing at the expected level, leaving Riley as the final missing piece and the player that can swing Atlanta's lineup and 2026 season. The best version of the third baseman makes the Braves elite contenders and allows the franchise to continue to grow its early-season division lead.
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