Atlanta Braves Make Austin Riley Change Before Yankees Game

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 04: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves reacts as he rounds third base after hitting a two-run homer in the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park on August 04, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Braves are in the middle of a three-game series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees won the first game 3-2 in extra innings on Friday. Austin Riley hit seventh for the Braves in the loss.

Atlanta Braves Announce Austin Riley Change During Yankees Series

GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 07: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves follows through on his eighth inning home run against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 07, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Braves moved Riley down to the eighth spot for Saturday’s game. Atlanta faced a left-hander in Max Fried yesterday and is facing right-hander Gerrit Cole today, prompting manager Walt Weiss to use different lineups based on the matchups.

Here is the Braves’ lineup for today:

1. Drake Baldwin C
2. Ronald Acuña Jr. DH
3. Matt Olson 1B
4. Michael Harris II CF
5. Ozzie Albies 2B
6. Mauricio Dubón LF
7. Mike Yastrzemski RF
8. Austin Riley 3B
9. Jim Jarvis SS

Here is the Yankees’ lineup:

1. Paul Goldschmidt 1B
2. Heliot Ramos LF
3. Ben Rice DH
4. Amed Rosario 3B
5. Trent Grisham CF
6. George Lombard Jr. SS
7. Spencer Jones RF
8. José Caballero 2B
9. Ausin Wells C

Looking at Austin Riley

GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 05: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after hitting a RBI ground-rule double in the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park on August 05, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Riley signed a 10-year, $212 million contract extension with the Braves in Aug. 2022.

In eight big-league seasons, Riley has posted 23.5 bWAR and a .265/.330/.478 slash line with 183 home runs and 540 RBI with the Braves.

Riley posted 6.0+ bWAR in each season from 2021-23. But since then, his numbers have regressed.

GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 05: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves hits a RBI ground-rule double in the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park on August 05, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Riley posted 2.9 bWAR and a .783 OPS in 110 games in 2024. Last year, he posted 1.4 bWAR and a .737 OPS in 102 games.

Riley is having the worst season of his career by far in 2026. He has posted just 0.9 bWAR and a .222/.297/.369 slash line with 14 home runs and 57 RBI over 115 games.

Atlanta Braves Right Now

GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – JULY 30: Walt Weiss #22 of the Atlanta Braves walks to the mound in the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals at Truist Park on July 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Braves entered Friday’s game against the Yankees with a seven-game winning streak.

Atlanta is in first place in the National League East with a 70-46 record. The second-place Philadelphia Phillies are 8 1/2 games back in the division standings.

Atlanta’s .603 winning percentage is the second best in MLB. If the season were to end today, the team would have a first-round bye in the playoffs.

The Braves will wrap up their three-game series with the Yankees on Sunday afternoon. After that, the team will host the New York Mets for a three-game series beginning on Monday.