The Atlanta Braves dropped only their second series of the season over the weekend against the Washington Nationals. After taking Memorial Day off, Atlanta will travel to face the Boston Red Sox in a three-game set this week. The Braves’ offense struggled late in the series, scoring no more than one run in each of the final two games versus Washington.
One Braves player still searching for consistency is Austin Riley. Although Riley collected a pair of hits on Sunday, his overall numbers remain below the level he typically expects from himself.
There is still ample time for him to bounce back, and Riley recently addressed his performance in comments to MLB.com reporter Mark Bowman.
Per Mark Bowman, here is what Austin Riley said about his own play, even though this message sounds like it could be directed towards the Braves as a team:
“Let’s see some consistency,” Riley said. “This game is about being consistent. I’d like to get there. Not have one good day and then take two steps back kind of deal. Let’s get on a run of consistency.”
Mark Bowman also believes that Riley can still turn his season around:
“After producing a .653 OPS through the first 54 games of 2024, Riley hit .283 with 15 homers and a .913 OPS over his remaining 56 games that year. His season ended after a pitch fractured his right hand on Aug. 18, which ended his bid for a fourth straight 30-homer season.”
Austin Riley’s 2026 Season
It’s been far from the ideal start to the 2026 season for Austin Riley — or for fans of the Atlanta Braves hoping to see him produce at his usual level. Through 54 games and 202 at-bats, Riley is batting .223 with a .673 OPS and eight home runs.
He has also posted a 0.6 bWAR so far this season. Riley is currently playing under a 10-year, $212 million deal, making him the highest-paid player in Braves franchise history.
There’s no question Riley is enduring a difficult stretch, and manager Walt Weiss may need to consider either giving him a game off or adjusting his spot in the lineup. Opposing pitchers have consistently challenged him with sliders away and fastballs inside, and he appears just a bit late getting the barrel through the zone.
