Photo by Todd Kirkland/MLB Photos via Getty Images Some good news for Austin Riley who could be back later this week. The Atlanta Braves got their homestand off on a good note with a 2-0 win over the Chicago Cubs Monday night. After the game, they got some good news on the injury front. An MRI exam on Austin Riley’s left side showed inflammation and he could return to the lineup later this week. Riley’s MRI just showed inflammation. He could play later this week— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) May 14, 2024 Riley left Sunday’s game against the Mets after experiencing some soreness on his side. The Braves said they removed him as a precaution, but he still had some lingering soreness which led to the MRI. Zack Short started in place of Riley Monday night and drove in Atlanta’s first run of the game. Reynaldo Lopez update Reynaldo Lopez turned in another solid performance on the mound but exited after the fifth inning and 71 pitches. Brian Snitker said after the game that Lopez’s back tightened up after the fifth inning. Lopez’s back tightened, that’s why he came out.— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) May 14, 2024 Despite the early exit, he is still expected to make his next start. Bullpen Decisions With a 2-0 lead in the ninth, Snitker elected to go with A.J. Minter one night after he blew a save in New York. Minter allowed the first two hitters to reach on a single and walk, but then got a double play and a fly out to end it. After the game, Snitker said that he just wanted to give Raisel Iglesias and Joe Jiménez another day of rest after both had a heavy workload in New York. Iglesias threw 48 pitches and allowed two runs in two appearances on Friday and Saturday. Jimenez threw 30 pitches Saturday.

Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images Austin Riley is out of the Braves’ lineup Monday and is awaiting MRI results on his left side. Austin Riley is out of the lineup for the Atlanta Braves Monday for the first time this season. Riley wasn’t in the Braves clubhouse prior to Monday’s series opener against the Chicago Cubs. However, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports that Riley is still sore and is waiting on MRI results. Austin Riley wasn’t in the clubhouse this afternoon. He’s still sore, so he is now awaiting MRI results— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) May 13, 2024 Braves now saying Riley hasn't had the imaging done yet. So, the results might not be available until after the game.— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) May 13, 2024 Brian Snitker said that they are hopeful to have more details following Monday’s game. Austin Riley is having an MRI now, #Braves still hopeful he avoids IL but won’t know more until they see results of that. Probably know more after game, Snitker said.— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) May 13, 2024 Riley left Sunday’s loss to the Mets in the fourth inning after experiencing some tightness in his left side. Brian Snitker later said that Riley felt some tightness during batting practice but didn't alert the team. He appeared to experience some discomfort on a swing in the third inning. Riley has yet to get going at the plate this season through his first 37 games hitting .245/.319/.388 with three home runs and a 102 wRC+. Zack Short will start at third base in his place Friday night while Marcell Ozuna slots into the third spot in the order.

Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for adidas It’s a big deal for Atlanta, which is eager to stave off a controversy. Despite all the rigamarole of the offseason, especially after the Atlanta Falcons took Michael Penix eighth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, Kirk Cousins is the team’s starting quarterback in 2024. The only thing standing between that reality and the Falcons’ wishes is Cousins’ health, and happily, that doesn’t appear to be much of an obstacle. Over the weekend, head coach Raheem Morris delivered an encouraging update on Cousins, who he said is near to being “full-go.” Falcons head Raheem Morris on quarterback Kirk Cousins' progress on injury recovery: "Kirk is everyday improving. We're at the point where he's doing everything he can in Phase 2. … He's out there pretty much full-go." Team overall is still in the no-contact period.— Terrin Waack (@TerrinWaack) May 10, 2024 There is still plenty of time between now and the start of the season, to say nothing of training camp, but us to see what that actually means for Cousins. But the fact that he has been throwing and the reports have been encouraging to this point offer optimism ahead of Week 1. Kirk pic.twitter.com/HG4psnNSKF— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 2, 2024 That optimism is a very big deal, for obvious reasons. The Falcons drafted Penix to be their long-term franchise quarterback, but virtually nobody is suggesting they want him to be that guy now. The major money thrown Cousins’ way and the way the contract is structured both suggested at the time of signing and continue to suggest now that the Falcons are hoping Cousins is under center for 2024 and 2025, with the team winning gobs of games because of that. If he’s not available immediately this year, it opens the door a crack for a quarterback controversy in the short-term the Falcons do not. But it seemed evident at the time of signing, even before the alleged tampering by the Falcons that they had done what they needed to do in order to feel good about where Cousins was in his recovery. Barring a setback you can never rule out, it appears Cousins is well on his way to being on the field for the season opener, giving the Falcons the peace of mind and the ability under center they prioritized after the last couple of grim seasons.

When a home office is visible from the front door, it gets special treatment, says interior designer Michelle Doughtie of Schilling & Co. The post Room Envy: A serene home office meant to be seen appeared first on Atlanta Magazine.