The Braves announced Friday that second baseman Ozzie Albies has been reinstated from the 60-day injured list. Fellow infielder Ehire Adrianza was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained quadriceps to open a spot on the active roster, while righty Jay Jackson was designated for assignment in order to clear a 40-man spot for Albies.
Albies, still just 25 years old, hasn’t appeared in a game since June 13 thanks to a broken left foot that ultimately required surgery. The Braves, at one point, were hopeful of a mid-August return for the two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger winner, but Albies’ recovery took a bit longer than that best-case scenario. Even without Albies’ all-around excellence, however, the Braves have been one of MLB’s hottest teams. Since his injury, Atlanta has played at a sweltering 52-28 pace, surging to just one game back of the NL East lead.
Inserting Albies back into the lineup will only make the Braves all the more dangerous. He is, after all, a .270/.321/.470 career hitter whose most recent full-season, 2021, was also the first 30-homer campaign of his impressive young career.
In Albies’ absence, the Braves have cycled through several options at the keystone. None of Orlando Arcia, Phil Gosselin or the aforementioned Adrianza hit particularly well in limited action at the position, however, and the organization eventually made the decision to call top prospect Vaughn Grissom up directly from Double-A in an effort to get more production from second base. Grissom has flashed all the tools that make him such a ballyhooed prospect in his initial look at the MLB level, but his bat has also cooled after a blistering start to the his career. Grissom slashed .420/.463/.660 through his first 14 games (54 plate appearances), but he’s batting just .210/.269/.333 in 17 games since and is has only one hit in his past five games.
For now, Grissom will stay on the big league roster despite the fact that Albies will step back into a full-time role at second base. There’s been talk of giving Grissom some time in left field, where neither Eddie Rosario nor Marcell Ozuna has provided much value to the lineup this season. There are also DH at-bats to go around, of course, so it’s possible for both Albies and Grissom to be in the lineup — which would come at the expense of playing time for some combination of Rosario, Ozuna and deadline acquisition Robbie Grossman.
The 34-year-old Jackson wasn’t on the active roster prior to today’s move but had been occupying a 40-man spot while pitching with Triple-A Gwinnett. He’s handled himself quite nicely there, to put things mildly; in 17 2/3 frames with Gwinnett, Jackson allowed just three runs on 13 hits and three walks with 20 strikeouts — good for a 1.53 ERA.
Jackson’s DFA is largely a case of poor timing and unfortunate (for him) circumstances. He missed the first several months of the season due to a lat strain and never really got much of a look in Atlanta thanks to an already loaded bullpen. The Braves are deep in quality veteran options, with Kenley Jansen, Raisel Iglesias, A.J. Minter, Tyler Matzek, Collin McHugh and Kirby Yates all under contract and pitching well. Rookie left-hander Dylan Lee has quietly been dominant for Atlanta, and the only other spot in the bullpen is currently occupied by out-of-options righty Jackson Stephens, who has pitched to a solid 3.74 ERA in a multi-inning role there.
The Braves could’ve opted to jettison Stephens and go with Jackson, but doing so would have required them to place Stephens on waivers, given his lack of minor league options. Jackson, who returned to the Majors in 2021 after spending the 2020 season in Japan, can become a free agent at season’s end under the terms of the contract he inked, MLBTR has confirmed. As such, the choice effectively boils down to four more years of Stephens versus a few more weeks of Jackson.
Given that Jackson is still owed the balance of a $1.5MM Major League salary, wouldn’t be playoff-eligible for a new team and is a free agent after the season, there’s a good chance he’ll clear waivers even in spite of his big showing in Gwinnett. If that’s the case, he could remain on hand as a depth option who could be summoned in the event of a late injury. Either way, he’ll reach the open market again this winter on the heels of a solid 2021-22 showing in Triple-A and having posted a combined 3.52 ERA with a 30.5% strikeout rate and 12.6% walk rate in 23 big league innings between San Francisco (21 2/3) and Atlanta (1 1/3) over the past two seasons.
Sorry Ms Jackson
Woooooo
are you guys being for reaaaal?
Good to have Ozzie back. I feel bad for Adrianza (IL manipulation?) and Jackson. It will be interesting to see how they play Ozzie and Vaughn.
Vaugh Grissom showed Tuesday that his defense skill isn’t up to what some peolle thought.
After the hot start the question for the Braves with Grissom is whether he is the real deal or not. Whether he can replace Swanson if needed if Atlanta allows Swanson.
Grissom may need some time at AAA to learn to make the necessary adjustments at the plate. I would hope if the plan is for him to play SS if they let Swanson leave they at least bring in a veteran stop-gap (Elvis Andrus, Jose Iglesias, Andrelton Simmons).
And by bringing in Simmons, you mean you’re making Grissom the starting SS the other 95% of games Simmons misses due to injury?
Not sure how 31 games into a career at 2B can give much indication how he’ll fare long-term at SS. He’s a stop-gap if unable to re-sign Swanson/sign another SS, keeping his bat in the line-up.
Swanson was a decent fielder that struggled with consistency that Wash really helped over the years. If you can hit, you’re going to play….and Grissom has done that. ATL waited patiently for Swanson to consistently produce – they’ll do the same for Grissom since they’ve already seen him do well.
I doubt they would let Swanson leave. He’s a Georgia guy. Plays above average defense and is one of the better SS in baseball. Braves would be foolish to let him go.
It will come down to how much Swanson wants. I think if Swanson actually makes it to free agency that there is a good chance he leaves.
He is a very good friend of Freeman’s so seeing him as a dodger could be possible
@Rsox…. What adjustments? He’s hitting .289 in the month of September. Are you talking about the tougher stretch against Seattle and SF? That was 5 games and the entire team’s bats were silent those games more or less.
While Grissom did hit his first 14 games in the ML, he’s been terrible over his last 17. His defensive shortcomings match the mil scouting reports that said he didn’t have the arm to play SS or 3B. Awkward footwork, clumsy hand actions, and has mediocre range (at best.) Braves should trade him if they can find a team that thinks as much of him as some of the people on here. He’s green. Needs more time in the minors to work on his defense and improving his ability to hit for power w/out selling out on inside pitches. He’s not a near term solution at SS if Swanson leaves, and neither is Braden Shewmake. The Braves are bereft of ML ready middle infielders at the upper levels of the minors. Somebody make me laugh even harder and claim that Albies could be the next SS. They’re in a mess if they don’t re-sign Swanson.
I enjoyed “ballyhooed” – nice touch.
So you’re telling me the Mets missed Scherzer and deGrom for about half a year each and still lead the east. The Mets will win the east but even if they don’t it’s embarrassing for the Braves that they talk this much and still haven’t passed us with that. Don’t give the Soroka and Albies bs too. It’s not the same. Albies was hitting horrible and Soroka will never be the same. I think based on what I said it’s pretty easy to acknowledge who the better team is.
Realmetsfan22; apparently you don’t watch media out of New York the embarrassment lays with the Mets no matter who win the division. The Braves with a horrible start with as far back as 10.5 games out and all the New York media wrote them off. When the Braves lost 4/5 to the Mets in New York everyone called the Braves done.
Now with the easiest schedule in baseball against last place or way below .500 teams the Mets are falling apart. Mean while Atlanta is playing playoff bound teams and treading enough water to stay only a game out. Had the Braves not blow 3 saves in the last 2 weeks Atlanta would be ahead.
It’s great to have pride in your team and be a loyal fan but no Mets fan should be bragging that they are the better team when they have blown their huge lead and we’re just swept at home by the Chicago cubs. A sweep that set history now team since 1968 being over 30above .500 have been swept by a team 20 games under .500
Not a lot to brag about here
“the Mets are falling apart” – This makes no sense to me. They lost 2 series recently. That’s it. That’s not failing apart. The Braves run has been historic. Not enough people are talking about that. The Mets have been really good and really consistent all year. The Mets are still really good, but the Braves have been playing out of their minds. That’s how they caught up. No one is collapsing here.
Vonpurolehayes;
When your the Mets 30 games above .500 and loose and get swept with a ace pitcher getting beat by a team 20 games under .500 the first time this happened in the divisional era which started in 1969. That should really be a cause for concern.
Honestly; that’s enough said there without mentioning anything else. Sometimes as fans we get blinded by our love and loyality that we don’t want to see what we are seeing.
With what the Mets have done they have lost that fear factor edge that some teams may have had against them. They are very beatable
VonPurpleHayes as usual you are the voice of reason here. Benjamin, its one game and for whatever reason the Mets always atruggle against pitchers they’re not familiar with. Even with the sweep the Mets finish 3-4 against the Cubs this year, which is better than they’ve done in a while against them.The Braves went 3-3 against them.
The fact is that the Mets over the past two months despite relentless pursuit by a defending WS team playing over .700 winning pct. have kept their heads and lead. Winning roughly 6 of every 10 is pretty impressive but what can you do when the team chasing you is winning 7 out of 10?
Though in the last week the Braves are coming back to earth with a dangerous yet mercurial Phils team coming to town. The Phils have played over.600 ball too over the past two months. The Braves backslide may continue. They’ve played a lot of games and their young pitchers are going into uncharted territory innings-wise plus their closer is looking shaky.
I think the Seattle game Sunday really took the wind out of their sales and that loss coupled with playing just insane baseball of over two months but still being in 2nd place is affecting them as well. If the Braves go into a funk down the stretch are they chokers too? Especially since they are defending WS champs. Or a good team that is coming back to earth at the wrong time after an incredible over two month run.
The Dodgers got swept by the Pirates this season. Good teams lose sometimes. The Mets responded to the sweep by beating the Pirates last night. I’m not a Mets fan, but I don’t see any signs that the sky is falling here.
Noones collapsing? I’d say. 10.5 game lead doesn’t just magically go away, means the Braves were winning and Mets losing. Blowing a 10.5 game lead is surely a collapse, not to mention got it back to 7.5 only to lose first place all together. While it may be back 1 game up that goes to show the Braves are coming on hot.
@RamMac my point is it’s more the Braves winning tgan the Mets losing. Mets hace been relatively consistent all year.
Not to mention the Cubs tagged their ace for three runs while the powerful Mets line up looked like fools against two rookies and Drew Smyly…
The majority of talking heads have the Braves actually as the better team in the division if not the best team in the NL.
Met fans, IMO, should be a little nervous given that the Dodgers got good looks at Bassit, DeGrom and Diaz. I really disagreed with Showalters decision to throw Diaz two days in a row against the Dodgers, especially against the heart of their order…. I get wanting to secure the win but that is a team you are most likely going to have to face if you want to get to the World Series and letting them see your closer like that moves the needle in the dodgers favor
“I really disagreed with Showalters decision to throw Diaz two days in a row against the Dodgers, especially against the heart of their order…”
not that Diaz is the same pitcher but have you ever heard of a guy named Mariano Rivera … everyone knew that he was going to throw that devastating cutter and he did that for 15 years and faced arguably the teams in the best division what 16 times each a year over those 15 years and still dominated them. And correct me if i am wrong, In those 15 years he probably faced the same batter more than once. many multiple times before the playoffs.
I mean you sort of contradict yourself here. You talk about the Mets significant injuries and then say don’t mention the Braves significant injuries. Also the Mets fully expected Max and deGrom to miss time. They were built for it. These are both great teams. The Mets spanked the Phillies this year. If the Braves can spank the Phillies in these upcoming games, then the division is theirs. If the Phils play the Braves well, the division belongs to the Mets.
The Mets injuries have been worse. Imagine the Mets only lost their 6th-7th best hitter and a 5th pitcher( that’s what Soroka will be now.
Injuries happen to all teams, but I think the Braves were hit a bit harder this year. Phillies too. Doesn’t matter though. They’re all big league clups. This is going to happen.
That’s so not true. If the Phillies lose wheeler and Nola and the Braves lost strider and fried for half the year both teams would be trying to make the playoffs instead of a lock.
Phillies did lose Wheeler. And Harper. And Segura. And their closer and setup man. I can go on and on. You think the Mets would be fine without Alonso and Diaz? I get it. Mets lost 2 high profile starters. Bit I can make a valid argument that the Braves and Phillies had more impactful injuries because the Mets are deep. They’re a great team.
@ RealMetaFan22 Strider was not in the rotation for two months and Fried did have a stint on the IL. But none of that or what you are saying really matters as I think every non-bias fan knew Degrom and Sherzer would miss a lot of time before the season started. That’s like Braves fans saying “well what if Soroka was healthy all year and the ace he was pre injury. Or what if Acuna was 100% healthy and pre injury Acuna?” You don’t hear that as I think most non-bias Braves fans knew not to expect that just as you should have never expected a healthy Sherzer and Degrom all year. If Acuna was 100% right now (pre Allstar break 2021 Acuna) there is zero doubt in my mind he’d be leading the NL in both HR and Stolen bases, would be in RF daily (instead of all the DH, improving the defense) and the Braves would have a 4-5 game lead in the division right now. It’s easy to play that what if game.
The Braves lost a guy that hit 38 homers and led the league in RBIs last season.
Yes the Mets are so well they managed to blow a 10 1/2 game lead. Nicely done.
Lmao you have one 3/4 of a good year and all of a sudden the Mets are the best team ever and this and that? What exactly were the Braves talked bc seems to me the Mets fans are the ones who cemented the division back on June 1st and look what happened.season isn’t over yet, don’t get to ahead of yourself lol
Just sit back and watch the Mets be the Mets. No need to compare injuries, unless that is you preparing your excuse for when the Mets blow it and you try to reason as to why they choke. The better team far and above is the Braves. They are 65-28 since all star break. Mets are 56-38. Either way the season isn’t over, don’t count your chickens before they hatch @therealmetsfan22
Reinforcement for the stretch run. One of my favorite Braves. Let’s go boys time to take the NL East!!!
Bravesnation nc; I love Ozzie too and the Crazy way he can hit a ball that is almost about to bounce or a ball over his head. One swing can look horrible and the next swing can be a home run
Dudes just got swept by the Cubs. Just sayin……
Stacked team , majors , young talent bursting through , deep pitching , money. Braves be a factor for years ahead , smart gm to boot !
Benjamin out here spitting that FIRE!!! Truth!!!
Screw it I’m purchasing my tickets for the Mets Braves series at Truist. I was there for the last series and it was crazy. Go Braves!
Bravesnation nc;
Awesome being west coast I am limited when I can see the Braves in person. I envoy you being able to go.
What is the Braves win song they play when they win?
youtu.be/hjexeNExXKU
I like this one. They use it once in awhile.
#boooorrrinngggg
Kinda stinks to let go of jay jackson, he’s been fine and more importantly, not a cancer to the team. Should have cut Ozuna. He’s a bad human being and a bad baseball player. And even though an overwhelming majority of Braves and baseball fans agree he should be out, there will be a few jackwagons with low morals of their own who will go to bat for him. Which argument is it gonna be? The “oh you must be so perfect”. Or the “if it doesn’t bother the team, it shouldn’t bother you” … both super weak arguments for a guy trying to kill people both with his hands and his car.
Braves are a better team than they were last year. Better pitching plus Acuna.
Don’t underestimate Atlanta.
Attllllannnttaaa Georgia. I wonder who would win falcons versus Braves?
I don’t think there will be a lot of DH ABs to go around. Braves plan is to play Acuña there for the rest of the regular season, to give his knee some rest.
From a Braves fan to the Tigers fans, I’m sorry. I guess Miggy must be the only Tigers player who is so good with the bat they can overcome whatever is getting taught there. Or something. The 13th wonder of the world is what happens to players when they get to Detriot. Even Baez isn’t producing. It’s not the field depth. Maybe they need to be the next team to make a move and switch Leagues. Go from the AL to the NL. The hitting coaches can’t miss this consistently right? Teams hit well there. Doesn’t seem like the top prospects are finding much luck either. It’s a terrible storm from all sides it seems. Detriot would have cooler rivalries, I think but might be wrong. It feels like something big there needs to happen.
Tagged? Yeah two of the three runs scoring on a sac fly and a sac bunt is really getting tagged.
Happ’s homer off deGrom was “really tagged” though, wasn’t it dlw.
Benjamin, normally it Kernkraft 400″ – Zombie Nation but after a Mets loss Jimmy horns
Poll: Braves win a second year in a row. Yes or no?
No!!!!!!
Yes……like the Yanks network, lol.
Don’t forget Jesse Chavez who is a solid multiple innings guy – as long as he’s wearing a Braves uniform.
Does anyone here even know or understand what a blown lead actually is? Where are the actual knowledgeable MLB fans?
To blow a lead you have to play bad. The team has to go on a losing streak or losing say 7, 8 out of 10 which leads to the team behind them taking 1st. When two teams are both winning but the second team is winning games at better than a 1927 Yankees clip while the team they are chasing are still playing at 100 win level season.
That is not blowing a lead unless in your universe playing over .700 ball is normal. Which shows both a great lack of understanding baseball and underappreciating just how good the Braves were playing during that streak.
Your view that the Mets choked or blew a 10 game lead actually diminishes what your team accomplished. Though I doubt you grasp that fact because it’s more fun to play smarta#$% on a baseball forum than view things like an actual baseball or Braves fan.
I think we can all agree on this that the division winner won’t matter if for example the Braves loose the division but go deeper into the playoffs than the Mets. People remember the playoffs more than regular season.
I think in my opinion the Mets really messed up by not going out and getting more help at the trade deadline. The Mets could loose 2-3 starters; their closer and starting center fielder in the off season. This was the Mets window to try for the World Series win.
Next year most of Atlanta core will be back and maturing with experience; marlins could be dangerous if they find offense to go with the pitching. Phillies with a healthy Bryce Harper and a big name shortstop could be dangerous.
National league east will be a tougher win on paper in 2023 than this year
The Mets are not losing deGrom Diaz or Bassitt. Nimmo is a chance but I’ll still bet he’ll come back.
Degrom is going opt out and Diaz is a free agent so they are if resigned going cost. Lot of money.
I believe Bassitt is on a player option so if that is the case he will most likely decline and go elsewhere
As a Braves fan, I’ll agree and say you’re right Benjamin. Good chance all 3 may leave—-or stay. Haha. Baseball!
I am glad Ozzman is back, but get Gross Man on the bench and start Grissom in the outfield.
Grissom had a hot start but has come back some and been cold. Other than Oakland series he was not very good and didn’t have great infield defense. Maybe a lot to ask of him to play the outfield at the major league level.
Both Braves radio and Braves podcasters have Grissom with limited defense range skills. Think if you see him in the outfield be against the nationals and not the Phillies.
Lol Braves podcasters? I guess I’m suppose to care what they think. Grossman ain’t no defensive wizard, and I’m sick of seeing him in the lineup every day. Rosario or Grissom is where its at.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jk3icA8_mI
It’s nice to have him back but do i think he will do better than Grisshom has been doing? No
If Ozzie’s not better than Grissom’s been over his last 17 games, 2B is going to be a black hole.
Hey may be slumping but he is batting over 300 and thats what I mean about it
So Jay Jackson will come straight back onto the roster now that Ozzie has a broken pinky. It looked to me like Segura really tagged his hand hard and kept pressure on it, however of course I can’t be sure how Ozzie sustained it. It is such a shame because the Braves are definitely far weaker without him, today was a prime example, he came up with a clutch hit to get on with 2 strikes on him, that ended up being huge in the context of the result, he’s a huge loss. Grissom is very good but he obviously doesn’t have the experience, Adrianza and Arcia should also get some game time.
I don’t know how you can talk about Ozuna and Rosario in a really negative way, both of them have not had consistent playing time, both of them need regular AB’s. Anyone that thinks it’s just so easy to go up and hit when you don’t play for days at a time just hasn’t got a clue, and in Rosario’s and Ozuna’s case both of them have not had regular consistent AB’s day in and day out. Imagine if Ozuna or Rosario were Olson, you’d be calling for them to be off the roster, and he has played everyday. 4 for his last 46 in September. Ozuna was 7- forhis last 25 with a double and a home run and started to show some light, then he goes 0-7 and he gets benched again. I know it’s impossible to fit them all in, especially whilst Contreras has come up with some very good clutch hitting. This series against the Phillies is huge, and so also will it be when we go there and have to play 4, along with the Mets series that could decide things.