More nagging injuries: Albies out of lineup, Inciarte exits early

Braves manager Brian Snitker discussed Wednesday’s loss to Reds and bullpen woes. (Video by David O’Brien)

The Braves expect to have dynamic rookie Ronald Acuna back in their lineup Friday at St. Louis, but now there’s a chance they could be without at least one of their other speedsters, Ender Inciarte and Ozzie Albies.

Inciarte left Wednesday’s 6-5 loss to the Reds after the seventh inning with what manager Brian Snitker characterized as a twinge or slight discomfort in an oblique muscle. Albies was out of the lineup after being hit in the left foot by a Matt Harvey pitch Tuesday night.

Albies stayed in for the entire game after being hit in the fourth inning, but was out of the lineup Wednesday for only the second time in 79 games this season.

“You go out there last night and you get popped (but stay in the game) because the adrenaline’s going,” Snitker said. “He told me (Tuesday), ‘I’m good.’ But then you sleep on it and he woke up this morning and it was really sore.”

Snitker replaced Inciarte immediately after the leadoff man and two-time Gold Glove center fielder mentioned some discomfort in his side.

“He felt something in his oblique. It was kind of a ‘shadow’ type thing,” Snitker said. “He just mentioned it and as soon as he mentioned it I’m not going to take any chances, because I don’t want (him) taking a swing. I think he could have played but it’s just one of those things you don’t want to take a chance with. And again, he’s day-to-day, tomorrow he’ll get treatment, he should be fine.”

The Braves will travel to St. Louis on their day off Thursday and both players will spend time in the training room at SunTrust Park before the team takes a bus to the airport.

“We treated (Albies) all day today, we’ll get him again (Thursday) morning before we leave,” Snitker said after Wednesday’s game. “If he needs a couple of days (more rest) in St. Louis, he does. But it’s something that, the day after things are a lot more sore than the night of.”

Ozzie Albies reacts after being hit on the foot by a pitch from Cincinnati’s Matt Harvey in the fourth inning Tuesday. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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Credit: Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.