Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (hand) will not return this season, according to manager Brian Snitker. Riley's hand simply was not healing fast enough after he had a CT scan on Monday. Even if the Braves sneak into the postseason in a wild-card spot, Riley will not be able to help them out in October. It's a big blow to a team that basically needs to win each game this week to have a shot at getting into the playoffs. The 27-year-old right-handed slugger is out with a fractured hand and will finish a disappointing year after making the All-Star squad in both 2022 and 2023. In 110 games played in 2024, he slashed .256/.322/.461 with a .783 OPS, 19 home run, 56 RBI and 63 runs scored. Riley had clubbed 30-plus homers in each of the previous three seasons. The slick-fielding Gio Urshela should be Atlanta's primary third baseman the rest of the way.

Atlanta Braves right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) threw a side session on Tuesday, and it sounds like there's a chance he could be activated off the 15-day injured list to work as a reliever or starter in the final week of the regular season as the Braves try to secure the final wild-card spot in the National League. Lopez is eligible to come off the 15-day IL on Thursday as he works his way back from inflammation in his right shoulder. It would be a pretty big surprise if the 30-year-old returned in a starting role this weekend despite the fact that he's been excellent for Atlanta this year with an 8-5 record, 2.03 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 137 strikeouts in 128 2/3 innings over his 24 starts in a return to a starting role in 2024. If Lopez does start this weekend against the Kansas City Royals, he'll surely be on a limited pitch count.

The Washington Nationals placed rookie infielder Andres Chaparro on the paternity list on Tuesday and recalled outfielder Stone Garrett from Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move. Chaparro will almost certainly be away from the team for the entire three-game series against the Kansas City Royals this week before returning to the club for the final series of the season this weekend against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. The 25-year-old has hit just .215 (26-for-121) with four home runs, 12 doubles, 15 RBI, one steal, seven walks and 24 strikeouts in 132 trips to the plate in his first 33 major-league games for the Nats in 2024. Juan Yepez is making the start at first in D.C. on Tuesday against Royals left-hander Cole Ragans and could play regularly this series with Chaparro away from the team to welcome a child into his family.

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Jakob Junis (personal) has been scratched from his scheduled start on Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field due to personal reasons and is now expected to start on Wednesday. Right-hander Carson Spiers will make a spot start on Tuesday in Cleveland as a result. Junis will now have an extra day of rest before facing the Guardians on the road in the final week of the 2024 regular season. The 32-year-old has been great all year, but especially of late, allowing only three earned runs on eight hits while walking just one and fanning 15 over 19 2/3 innings in his last four starts against the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves. Junis has only thrown 62 innings in 2024 due to injury, but he's posted a nice 2.61 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in 23 outings (five starts) when healthy.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (hip, knee) isn't expected to return from the 10-day injured list in the regular season, which ends this Sunday, according to manager Rocco Baldelli. Knee tendinitis sent Kepler to the IL at the beginning of the month, and he also received a cortisone injection for his hip pain last week. If the Twins secure a spot in the postseason this week, the 31-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder could rejoin them for a playoff run in October. The Twins probably aren't banking on Kepler being a big part of their offense if they are playing in October, though, as he battled injuries all year long and has hit a very mediocre .253/.302/.380 with only eight home runs, 42 RBI and 43 runs scored in 368 at-bats over 399 plate appearances. Since the All-Star break, Kepler has hit .246 (30-for-122) with two homers, 10 RBI and 28 K's in 33 games.