Adams, Albies to IL; Markakis reinstated

ATLANTA -- Braves manager Brian Snitker does not know exactly how much time Ozzie Albies will need to properly rest his sore right wrist, but he is hopeful the second baseman will resume his productive ways when he returns within the next couple weeks.

“We’ll shut [Albies] down for a week or so from throwing and hitting,” Snitker said. “He’ll get treatment and all of that stuff. It might take two weeks. Who knows? He might be better in eight days and ready to come back. I don’t have any idea.”

The Braves placed Albies (right wrist contusion) and Matt Adams (left hamstring strain) on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday. Catcher Alex Jackson was recalled, and veteran outfielder Nick Markakis was reinstated from the restricted list, which he was placed on after temporarily electing not to play this year.

Albies says his wrist has bothered him for a couple of weeks, but he does not remember one specific event that created the discomfort. The plan had been to occasionally rest him over the next couple weeks. But that plan was ditched after Tuesday's 10-1 win, when the ailment became debilitating to the point the switch-hitter opted to bat left-handed against Blue Jays reliever Anthony Kay.

Albies recorded three extra-base hits during a July 26 win in New York, but he has gone 2-for-21 over his past six games. A couple weeks of rest could prove to be what he needs to get back to where he was last year, when he hit 24 homers with a .852 OPS.

“This is a kid who is on the ground a lot,” Snitker said. “He dives and slides. I didn’t want him to be wary of that. So we’ll just try to get him healed up.”

Charlie Culberson started at second base in Albies’ absence on Wednesday night, but Adeiny Hechavarría could get a bulk of the starts at that position over the next week or two.

Adams homered in the second inning in Tuesday's win, but then strained his hamstring while running to first base in the fourth. The left-handed slugger could be sidelined for a few weeks with this ailment. His absence created a roster spot for Markakis, who elected not to play on July 5 and then reversed his decision last week.

Markakis could play either of the two corner-outfield spots, and he is at least an option to serve as the designated hitter, a role Adams had been filling against right-handed starters.

“I don’t think the offensive part is going to be a problem for [Markakis],” Snitker said. “I think at 50 years old, you could bring him out of retirement and he’ll hit.”