Braves Briefing: Ozzie Albies expected to return to lineup next week

Atlanta's 2nd baseman has been on the IL with an hamstring strain since August 15th but Brian Snitker indicates he could return next week in Colorado

Ozzie Albies was technically able to be activated from the injured list last night, but he wasn't activated and all reports are that Atlanta won't have the talented 2nd baseman in the lineup at all this series as they play the Giants for the 2nd straight weekend. 

But he did travel with the team on the road trip, and indications are that he'll return without a rehab stint as the Braves move from San Francisco to Colorado for the 2nd leg of the road trip next week.   

“He’s kind of intensifying his workouts and everything’s coming good,” manager Brian Snitker told the media on Friday.

The Braves haven't definitely said when to expect Ozzie in the lineup, but if Atlanta can get him back for the three-game set against Colorado, that'll hopefully give the slugging switch-hitter some time to make sure his timing is back before heading to Los Angeles for what MLB.com called the most influential remaining series of the season in all of baseball.   

NL East Standings

Team	Record	GB	Action Today
Atlanta	83-44	--	@ Giants
Philadelphia	70-58	13.5	vs Cardinals
Miami	65-64	19.0	vs Nationals
Washington	60-69	24.0	@ Marlins
NY Mets	59-70	25.0	vs Angels

We Wrote It

I did a mailbag for the site yesterday morning, and talked about those Dodgers and the importance of next weekend's series: 

The Dodgers have absolutely overcome that uncharacteristic slow start to become The Dodgers and are now running away with the NL West - their 12-game divisional lead is only a game and a half behind Atlanta's for largest in baseball, and their actual record (78-48) is third in all of MLB and just four games behind Atlanta for best in the National League. The big determinant on who wins home field advantage, to me, is going to be that series in LA next weekend - Atlanta plays four against the Dodgers from August 30th-September 3rd. Whoever wins the series probably wins the #1 seed, and gets the home-field advantage if this teams meet in the playoffs. 

Highlights from last night's victory over the San Francisco Giants

What's next for the Atlanta Braves?

Atlanta looks for an early series win with Max Fried on the bump this afternoon, squaring off against RHP Ryan Walker in what might be yet another bullpen game for the Giants. First pitch is scheudled for 4:05 PM ET, and the broadcast is on Bally Sports Southeast in Braves Country and a national broadcast on FS1 everyone else. 

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