BY GEORGE DICKIE
With each game, Austin Riley's case for National League
MVP becomes more and more compelling.
Indeed, in their All-Star third baseman, the Atlanta Braves
have a young slugger in the midst of another career year on
a team looking to win its fifth consecutive NL East title and
second straight world championship.
As of late July, the 25-year-old Mississippi product was
batting .294 with 28 home runs, 64 RBI, an on-base
percentage of .356 and an OPS of .945. He was especially hot
in July with an 18-game hitting streak during which he hit
.444 with eight homers, 16 RBIs and a 1.383 OPS.
Such hitting prowess has gotten the attention of opposing
pitchers, who puzzle over how to pitch him.
"He kills fastballs," Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher
Patrick Sandoval said after surrendering two hits to Riley in
a late July game. "I heard ... that he has the hardest exit velo
against breaking balls, too. So it's tough. You have to execute."
Nearly snubbed for the All-Star Game, Riley was chosen as
a reserve on the NL team, a similar fate suffered by another
Atlanta third baseman,
Chipper Jones, in 1999. That
year, the Braves great went on
to win the MVP award.
Riley and the Braves can
be seen in action Saturday,
Aug. 27, when they continue
a three-game series against
the St. Louis Cardinals in a
regional game airing on Fox.
Riley playing like
an MVP for Braves
• FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 22 - 28, 2022 •
Rob McElhenney (left) and Ryan Reynolds
are featured in "Welcome to Wrexham,"
premiering Wednesday on FX and Hulu.
YOUR WEEKLY GUIDE TO TV ENTERTAINMENT
