The Atlanta Braves received another positive update from third baseman Austin Riley, who exited Sunday’s game with soreness on his side. An MRI revealed that there was just some inflammation and that a move to the injured list would not be necessary.

David O’Brien of The Athletic reported that Riley told manager Brian Snitker that he was feeling much better on Tuesday.

After this news, it is still likely that Riley will return to the lineup this week.

More Braves News:

Chris Sale was dominant as the Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 7-0 to win the series. The Braves are now 6-4 in their last 10 and trail the NL East by two games.

Spencer Schwellenbach, the Braves’ No. 3 prospect, has been promoted to Double-A Mississippi. The 23-year-old has manufactured a 2.53 ERA in High-A Rome this season.

Over the past week, AJ Smith-Shawver has turned in two starts and EJ Exposito has kept his hot streak alive. For more, check out the Braves’ Prospects Weekly Report.

Braves Podcasts:

MLB News:

Houston Astros starter Ronel Blanco was ejected on Tuesday night after a foreign substance check. The glove is being sent to the commissioner’s office.

Minnesota Twins reliever Justin Topa will be shut down for six weeks with a partially-torn patellar tendon in his left knee. There is a surgical option for Topa, but as of right now, he has declined it.

The Milwaukee Brewers placed first baseman Rhys Hoskins on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain. He is expected to miss two to four weeks.

The Chicago White Sox moved right-hander Michael Soroka to the bullpen after a tough season in the rotation spot thus far. He has put together a 6.39 ERA in nine starts.

The New York Mets designated two players for assignment in infielder Joey Wendle and reliever Yohan Ramirez.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer, New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez began a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday.

As he settles in as Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith will reportedly head into familiar territory right away. According to WSB-TV’s Zach Klein, the Steelers will head to Atlanta to take on the Falcons in the season opener.

Smith spent the last three years as the Falcons’ head coach, amassing a 21-30 record before his firing after the 2023 season. He then latched on with the Steelers, where he’ll now work with a quarterback room of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields after some major moves this offseason.

According to Klein, Smith won’t have to wait long to return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Smith spoke about his tenure in Atlanta after taking over in Pittsburgh earlier this offseason, pointing out the need to build the roster from scratch during his time at the helm.

“It was a unique situation, essentially rebuilding a team” Smith said, via Falcon Report’s Daniel Flick. “There were some good lessons learned. It was a tough lesson, but it’ll help me here, especially with some of the young players here that we have, and how you fit the offense and try to play to those guys’ strengths.”

Pittsburgh and Atlanta both made major moves at the quarterback position this offseason. Wilson is coming in as the expected starter for the Steelers this year with Fields as his backup while the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a lucrative contract and selected Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Raheem Morris is now at the helm for Atlanta, as well.

Chiefs, Ravens to kick off 2024 NFL season

The full NFL schedule is set to be revealed Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET, but some games have already been announced. That includes the first game of the year, which will see the two-time defending champions in a rematch of the 2023 AFC Championship.

The Super Bowl LVIII-winning Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Baltimore Ravens in a highly anticipated matchup to start the year. The 2024 NFL season begins on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.

Baltimore 1-3 against the Chiefs with quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes under center. Last time the Chiefs and Ravens were face-to-face, Kansas City won 17-10 and advanced to the championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Nikki Chavanelle contributed to this report.

Libby Allnatt

Libby Allnatt is the Editor/Reporter for What Now Atlanta. She has been in the journalism industry since graduating from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, gathering experience in copy editing, writing and social media. With a passion for helping people find their new favorite places, Libby enjoys highlighting small businesses, trying new coffee shops and exploring a city’s signature spots. Originally from Salt Lake City, she loves discovering all the Peach State has to offer.