Braves vs. Rangers: Austin Riley Batting Seventh & His Tough Season

What’s Happening With the Braves Right Now?

Imagine baseball as a big ladder. The Atlanta Braves are near the top! Here’s the simple version:

• The Braves have won 55 games and lost 40 this season in Major League Baseball (MLB) — that’s the top baseball league in the U.S.
• They are about to start the second half of their season with a weekend home series (games at their own stadium) against the Texas Rangers.
• Both the Rangers and Braves are in first place in their own groups (called divisions).
• The Braves are ahead of the Phillies by 2.5 games in the NL East (their division). A “game lead” is like being a few steps ahead on the ladder.

Important Point: Before the first game vs. the Rangers, the Braves shared their lineup — the list of who bats in what order — and it shows where player Austin Riley will hit.

Austin Riley Batting Seventh on Friday Evening Against the Rangers

In the first game of the Braves–Rangers series, Austin Riley will bat seventh for Atlanta. That means he is the 7th person to take a turn hitting.

Here is the full Braves lineup for July 17 (shared by UnderdogMLB):

1. D. Baldwin – C (catcher)
2. O. Albies – 2B (second base)
3. M. Olson – 1B (first base)
4. M. Harris II – CF (center field)
5. M. Dubón – LF (left field)
6. D. Smith – DH (designated hitter, only hits)
7. A. Riley – 3B (third base)
8. J. Jarvis – SS (shortstop)
9. B. Hicklen – RF (right field)

Starting pitcher (the person who throws first for the Braves):

• C. Sale – SP (starting pitcher)

A few extra notes:

• Chris Sale (the starting pitcher) has a record of 9 wins, 6 losses, a 2.20 ERA (Earned Run Average — lower is better!), and 117 strikeouts (times he made batters miss).
• Jim Jarvis and Brewer Hicklen are also starting at the bottom of the order (spots 8 and 9).
• Atlanta has been putting Riley in the 7th spot for a few weeks now.
• Riley has had a hard time this season, but maybe some rest will help him in the last two months.

Important Point: Riley batting seventh is a continued trend — the team has slowly moved him down the order over recent weeks.

Austin Riley This Season

This year has been the hardest of Austin Riley’s MLB life, and fans are confused about why he isn’t hitting as well.

Here are his numbers so far:

• He played 95 games and had 343 at-bats (times standing at the plate to hit).
• He is batting .207 (that’s low — it means he gets a hit about 2 out of 10 tries).
• He has 9 home runs (big hits over the fence).
• He has 42 RBI (Runs Batted In — times his hit helped a teammate score).
• His OPS+ is 72. OPS+ is a score where 100 is average. 72 is below average, and it’s the worst of his career by a lot.

Why might this be? He seems a bit lost when hitting. Some think it could be connected to the sad passing of his hitting coach a couple of years ago.

Important Point: This is the worst offensive (hitting) season of Riley’s career, and his OPS+ of 72 is far below his past levels.

Summary

• The Braves (55–40) start the back half of their season at home vs. the Rangers.
• Both teams lead their divisions; Braves lead NL East by 2.5 games.
• Austin Riley bats seventh in the July 17 game; Chris Sale starts for Atlanta.
• Riley is having his worst MLB season: .207 average, 9 HR, 42 RBI, OPS+ 72 in 95 games.
• His struggles may be linked to the loss of his former hitting coach.

FAQ

Q: What does “batting seventh” mean?
A: It means Austin Riley is the 7th player in his team’s hitting order. He waits for six teammates to bat before his turn.

Q: What is OPS+?
A: OPS+ is a simple score for hitting. 100 means “average.” Riley’s 72 means he is hitting worse than most regular players.

Q: Why are the Braves and Rangers important right now?
A: Both are in first place in their divisions, so their weekend series is a big deal as the second half of the season begins.

Q: Who is Chris Sale?
A: He is the Braves’ starting pitcher in the first Rangers game. He has 9 wins, 6 losses, a 2.20 ERA, and 117 strikeouts.