Friday started with good news for the Braves with Austin Riley being activated off the injured list. There weren’t many highlights after that, though, as the Braves’ second-half struggles continued with an 8-3 loss to the Rangers to open a nine-game road trip.

The Rangers didn’t string together any big rallies until the eighth inning but continually put runs on the scoreboard in the first, second, fourth and fifth innings. The wheels fell off in the eighth by way of an erratic Rafael Montero.

Braves manager Brian Snitker said Austin Riley would have likely been activated from the injured list on Tuesday had the team been preparing for a playoff game. “I think it’s just smart to piggyback with \[Thursday’s off-day,

The Atlanta Braves take a flyer on a power bat out of Auburn, adding another first baseman from this year's amateur prospect class

The Atlanta Braves activated third baseman Austin Riley from the injured list on Friday ahead of a weekend series at Texas. Riley hadn't played since straining an abdominal muscle while making a throw on July 11 against St.

Pregame analysis and predictions of the Atlanta Braves vs. Texas Rangers MLB game to be played on July 26, 2025 on ESPN.

Outfielder Sam Haggerty has been activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday’s game against Atlanta, the Rangers announced. In a corresponding move, the Rangers are optioning Cody Freeman to Triple-A Round Rock.

Workers have some finishing touches to put on the field inside the racetrack at Bristol Motor Speedway, where officials are expecting a record crowd to watch the Cincinnati Reds play the Atlanta Braves in the MLB Speedway Classic next Saturday.

This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.