Braves 2B Ozzie Albies expected to miss about 8 weeks with fractured wrist

ATLANTA (AP) — Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies broke his left wrist late in Sunday’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals and is expected to be out about eight weeks.

Albies was injured trying to catch a pitch when Michael Siani stole second base in the ninth inning. Siani slid into Albies as the infielder tried to catch the ball, bending his gloved hand back at an awkward angle.

Albies crouched on the field in pain and held his left wrist. He was replaced at second base by Atlanta teammate Zack Short.

The three-time All-Star is hitting .255 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs, almost exclusively from second in the batting order.

It’s another blow for Atlanta’s roster after reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. suffered a season-ending knee injury in May.

Earlier in the day, the Braves placed All-Star pitcher Max Fried on the 15-day disabled list with forearm neuritis, a nerve inflammation, in a decision retroactive to Thursday.

Seeking a seventh straight NL East title, the Braves are 8 1/2 games behind leader Philadelphia but hold the league’s top wild card.