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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 17: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves rounds third base after hitting a three run home run during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Truist Park on May 17, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
On Friday night, the Atlanta Braves will open up a series with the Cincinnati Reds (in Ohio).
UPDATE: The Braves won 8-3.
The Braves are coming off a series where they took two out of three games against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Most recently, the Braves won by a score of 10-2 (on Thursday).
Austin Riley (who batted 5th) finished with four strikeouts in five at-bats.
ATL Braves Announce Riley Change
GettyAustin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves hits a three run home run during the second inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on May 20, 2026 in Miami, Florida.
UPDATE: Riley is not in the lineup on Saturday.
For Friday’s game, the Braves have announced their starting lineup.
Via Underdog MLB: “Braves 5/29 R. Acuña Jr. RF M. Harris II CF M. Olson 1B O. Albies 2B D. Smith DH A. Riley 3B M. Yastrzemski LF J. Mateo SS C. Tromp C G. Holmes SP”
Braves 5/29
R. Acuña Jr. RF M. Harris II CF M. Olson 1B O. Albies 2B D. Smith DH A. Riley 3B M. Yastrzemski LF J. Mateo SS C. Tromp C
G. Holmes SP
Riley has been moved down to the 6th spot in the lineup on Friday.
He last batted 6th on May 23.
Right now, Riley is batting .216 with 46 hits, eight home runs, 31 RBI’s, 28 runs and three stolen bases in 57 games.
GettyAustin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves reacts in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 11, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Riley (who is a two-time MLB All-Star) is in his eighth year with the Braves.
At one point, he was among the best young stars in baseball.
That said, the 29-year-old has struggled over the last year.
Social Media Reacts To Friday’s Lineup
GettyManager Walt Weiss #22 of the Atlanta Braves watches the action against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning at Chase Field on April 04, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Here’s what people were saying about the team’s lineup on Friday:
Jesús Cano: “Notable — Jorge Mateo making back-to-back starts at shortstop”
Grant McAuley: “#Braves shuffled lineup includes Michael Harris II batting II. And another start for Jorge Mateo at shortstop. Grant Holmes faces the Reds in a hitter’s haven tonight.”
@BassMaster_5: “Weiss is such an upgrade over Snitker”
@Brad_Shepard: “MATEO!!! Now let’s heat Riley up.”
Braves Right Now
GettyAustin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves hits a three run home run during the second inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on May 20, 2026 in Miami, Florida.
The Braves enter the night as the first-place team in the National League East with a 38-19 record in 57 games.
They are an incredible 21-9 in the 30 games they have played on the road.
Ben Stinar Ben Stinar has been covering the NBA for over seven years. He has written for OnSI, Forbes, Amico Hoops, The Big Lead and had a podcast with former All-Star Jameer Nelson. More about Ben Stinar