While the Atlanta Braves took the field at Truist Park for Wednesday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants, Major League Baseball was busy with its own work: Releasing the list of starters for the 2024 All-Star Game.

And when the list became finalized, the Braves were officially left without a starting position player for the first time since 2017.

Here’s a look at the National League starters …

C: William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers

1B: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies

2B: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

SS: Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies

3B: Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies

OF: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers; Jurickson Profar, San Diego Padres; Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres

DH: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

Last year the Braves set a franchise record with eight-total selections. They had three All-Star starters in catcher Sean Murphy, shortstop Orlando Arcia and outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., while five others – first baseman Matt Olson, second baseman Ozzie Albies, third baseman Austin Riley and pitchers Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder – were selected as reserves.

Atlanta has several candidates to make the game this year, headlined by designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, starters Reynaldo Lopez, Chris Sale and Max Fried and reliever Jesse Chavez.

Of note, one NL starter – Contreras – has Braves ties, as the now-Milwaukee standout played in 153 games from 2020-22 for Atlanta, earning an All-Star nod in his final year. He was traded to the Brewers in Dec. 2022 as a part of a three-team trade that brought Murphy to Atlanta.

MLB All-Star reserves and pitchers will be announced at 5:30 p.m. ET Sunday on ESPN. The 2024 MLB All-Star game is scheduled for July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

GEORGIA — An Independence Day heat advisory has been issued for parts of northwest and central Georgia, according to the National Weather Service’s Peachtree City office.

The advisory goes into effect at 1 p.m. Thursday and lasts until 7 p.m. that evening.

Weather officials say heat index values of up to 109 are expected in the region. They added hot temperatures and high humidity could potentially cause heat illnesses.

Fulton, Gwinnett, Bartow, Barrow, Clarke, Oconee, Cobb, Paulding, Cherokee, Douglas, DeKalb, Rockdale, Clayton, Henry, Butts, Spalding, Muscogee and Upson counties are among several impacted by the advisory.

Residents should drink plenty of fluids and remain in air-conditioned rooms, weather officials said. People are urged to stay out of the sun and to check on relatives or neighbors.

• Take extra precautions when outside.
• Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing.
• Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening.
• Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• To reduce risk during outdoor work, schedule frequent rest breaks in
• shaded or air conditioned environments.
• Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
• Heat stroke is an emergency. Call 911.

Fireworks Near Me: GA July 4th 2024 Events

As of Wednesday afternoon, the temperature was 91 degrees in metro Atlanta and 94 degrees in Columbus. Coastal Georgia was a bit cooler at 87 degrees in Savannah.

In what might be much to the dismay of Fourth of July observers, temperatures are set to sit around the mid-90s through the remainder of the week.

The heat could linger through the weekend, with the weather service saying additional heat advisories may be necessary.

ATLANTA – The city of Atlanta has responded to a potential federal lawsuit over sewage dumping in the Chattahoochee River. 

The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper – an environmental nonprofit working to preserve the health of the river – has slapped the city with a notice of its intent to sue over violations of the Clean Water Act because of the mess that stretches nearly 60 miles downstream.

“We’re talking 80,000,000 gallons per day going into the Chattahoochee River that is only partially treated,” Jason Ulseth, the executive director of the group, told FOX 5’s Rob Diirenzo.

That’s why the nonprofit told the city of Atlanta they’re taking them to federal court if the spills don’t stop.

“Atlanta’s been working on it for several months. They’re not moving fast enough so we put them on notice. We gave them 60 days to get this plant fixed and online, or we will hold them accountable in federal court,” Ulseth said.

The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper periodically tests the water. They say since March, there have been high levels of E. coli and other hazardous bacteria that can be harmful to humans and the environment.

“We’re at a very real risk of fish kill on a major extent of the Chattahoochee River, downstream from Atlanta, if this doesn’t get fixed, and if it doesn’t get fixed quickly,” Ulseth said.

The sewage can be traced to the RM Clayton Water Reclamation Plant on Bolton Road in northwest Atlanta. It’s there that a limited amount of treated sewage can be released into the river.

But the Riverkeeper says the infrastructure to treat it hasn’t been kept in working order, which makes the 60-mile section down to Franklin possibly dangerous.

“If you’re young, immunocompromised, or elderly, you probably won’t want to come in contact with the water,” Ulseth said.

Atlanta responds to possible Chattahoochee lawsuit

The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management responded to the organization’s intent to sue on Tuesday afternoon, saying, “Both the City of Atlanta and CRK are aligned and share the same goal of protecting the water quality of the Chattahoochee River. Thus, we believe our collective time and efforts are best spent working towards that goal, not pursuing expensive and protracted litigation.”

The department also said it was committed to getting its operations functional and compliant with state and federal environmental rules.

Ulseth says it’s important that the compliance comes quickly.

“This tiny river sustains over 5 million people. We have to do everything we can to protect it or else it’s not going to be here for future generations,” he said.