On Thursday, the Atlanta Braves will be back at PNC Park for the finale of their three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Braves are coming off a 3-0 win on Wednesday (and the series is tied up at 1-1).
Austin Riley finished with one strikeout in three at-bats.
Manager Makes Honest Austin Riley Statement
GettyManager Walt Weiss #4 of the Atlanta Braves looks on during batting practice prior to facing the Kansas City Royals in the home opener at Truist Park on March 27, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ahead of Thursday’s game, manager Walt Weiss was asked about Riley in an interview with 680 The Fan.
Weiss: “Yeah, it’s been a tough one. You know, he works non-stop every day. The track record is obviously a good one. So it leads you to believe that it’s going to click and I think we have some recent examples here of Ozzie and Michael Harris last year how they had really tough first halves and then turned it around and carried it into this season. So I’m hoping the same for Austin. You know, there’s been a couple times where I’ve given him a day here and there, but I’ve let him try to work through it here recently. You know, there’s some signs every now and then that it’s going to click. It’s just a matter of finding that consistency. I think he will, like I said, because of the work ethic, because of the track record. I think it’s going to happen for him. And like I said, it’s nice that we have a couple recent examples of guys that turned it around after a tough first half.”
Riley comes into Thursday batting .210 with 69 hits, nine home runs, 41 RBIs, 37 runs and five stolen bases in 91 games.
He is in the middle of his eighth MLB season (all with Atlanta).
The 29-year-old has made two MLB All-Star Games (and helped the Braves win the 2021 World Series title).
Braves Right Now
GettyDrake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with Eli White #36, Austin Riley #27, Dominic Smith #8, and Ozzie Albies #1 after a grand slam against the New York Mets in the ninth inning at Truist Park on July 5, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Despite Riley’s struggles, the Braves still remain at the top of the National League East with a 53-38 record in 81 games.
They are 26-20 in the 46 games they have played away from Truist Park in Georgia.
Following the Pirates, the Braves will visit the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.
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