Markakis injured after HBP: 'It doesn't look good'

PHILADELPHIA -- The Braves started their crucial six-game road trip with a 9-2 win over the rival Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Friday, but it may have come at a costly price.

Right fielder Nick Markakis exited shortly after being hit on the left wrist by a 91 mph fastball from left-hander Cole Irvin in the sixth inning. Markakis stayed in to run the bases, but was replaced by Charlie Culberson in right field to start the bottom of the frame.

Though the Braves won't have an official diagnosis until Markakis undergoes more tests on Saturday, manager Brian Snitker said the club is preparing for bad news.

"It doesn’t look good. We’re going to get him looked at tomorrow. We’re not real optimistic," Snitker said. "Until they get the [X-rays] and all that stuff, we’re not going to know. But like I say, it doesn’t look good."

Markakis, who stood at his locker with his left wrist in a soft brace, echoed a similar sentiment.

"Don’t know much right now," he said. "I’m going to go see the doctor tomorrow, and we’ll see how it goes. It doesn’t look good, but you never know."

Markakis has played in all 104 games this season and was one of just seven players to play in all 162 contests last season, along with teammate Freddie Freeman. Markakis has not missed a game since Sept. 27, 2017, and he's missed only 11 games in his five seasons since joining the Braves.

No player has played more games in the Majors over the last five seasons than Markakis (740).

“That’s tough," said Freeman, who missed seven weeks with a fractured left wrist after being hit by a pitch in 2017. "Five years, he’s been that constant veteran leader in this clubhouse. I don’t know if the news is going to be good, but we’re all hoping for a miracle here. It kind of put a damper on tonight.”

While Markakis and his teammates hope for that miracle, the 35-year-old outfielder certainly sounded like someone who was preparing for just his second career stint on the injured list. He spent five weeks on the IL in 2012 with the Orioles after sustaining a broken bone in his right wrist on an awkward swing.

"These guys are going to be fine. These guys are some of the best in the game," Markakis said. "I’ll still be here, I’ll just be watching them from a different angle. These guys have overcome a lot of things. Injuries are part of the game. That’s the chance you take every time you step in between those white lines."

Markakis tried to spin out of the way of Irvin's pitch -- one that Markakis compared to a "heat-seeking missile" -- but it caught him flush on the wrist. He stayed in the game after being checked on by Snitker and the training staff, but it was obvious he couldn't continue when he returned to the dugout.

Markakis has hit out of the five spot for Atlanta in all but six of his starts this season. He's also hit cleanup four times and started one game each hitting leadoff and batting third. He received his first career All-Star selection last season en route to winning his third Gold Glove Award and first Silver Slugger honor.

"It’s a huge blow, there’s no doubt about it," Freeman said. "He’s hit fifth for us all year, plays Gold Glove defense, veteran guy -- it’s going to be tough to replace that."

Though it's far too early to speculate about potential replacements for Markakis -- or even if the Braves will indeed need one -- the injury comes less than a week before Wednesday's Trade Deadline.

"I don’t know if you can replace Nick, but someone’s going to come in and have to do the best job they can do," Freeman said. "We don’t need someone to come in and be Nick Markakis, we just need that person to be who that person is and help us win ballgames."

While the Braves' latest win -- one that also came without Dansby Swanson, who missed a second straight game with left heel soreness -- extended their lead in the National League East to 5 1/2 games, the focus was elsewhere in the visiting clubhouse Friday night.

"It’s nice to win," Freeman said, "but more importantly, we’re worried about a couple guys on our team right now."