Austin Riley will miss the remainder of the season after core-injury surgery, with the Braves signaling a target return for spring training. Riley had earlier spent time on the IL with a strained lower abdomen and finished 2024 at .260 with 16 homers and 54 RBI. To cover the gap, Atlanta swung to add depth: Cal Quantrill was claimed off waivers from the Miami Marlins and joined the Braves’ rotation plans, Dane Dunning was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett, and Jake Fraley joined the roster after Cincinnati DFA’d him. Dylan Dodd was recalled from Gwinnett, Luke Williams landed on the 10-day IL with a strained left oblique, and Connor Seabold was optioned to Gwinnett. The moves underscore Atlanta’s push to stabilize its roster and preserve upside for next season, even as Riley’s absence shapes day-to-day fantasy projections.

Fantasy-impact take: with Riley out, Fraley’s plate appearances and lineup role become more interesting for daily fantasy value, while Quantrill’s addition provides a flexible arm that could push for starts or multi-inning relief. Dodd’s recall could unlock bullpen leverage, and the Seabold/Williams depth could offer streaming opportunities in deeper leagues. Atlanta’s emphasis on depth hints at upside behind the star power, and it keeps the Braves competitive while balancing health into spring training.

Jen Pawol became the first woman to umpire an MLB game behind home plate in a Braves-Marlins doubleheader in Atlanta. She called 140 of 151 pitches correctly (92.72%), a figure that sits in the bottom third of this season’s umpires but lines up with her peers’ performance. The 7-1 Braves win drew little attention to the outcome and more to the milestone amid Statcast-era scrutiny. For fantasy players, the takeaway is that plate-umppire accuracy can align with expectations even under intense public watch, potentially reducing noise in daily projections.

The piece underscores a historical moment evaluated through Umpire Scorecards, which simulate pitches to gauge interpretability, validity and fairness. While the sample size is just one game, the message is clear: future appearances by Pawol are likely, and their impact on game flow may be subtler than the moment itself suggests.

Jen Pawol breaks MLB ground as the first woman to umpire a regular-season game behind the plate, in a Marlins–Braves matchup that put a spotlight on balls and strikes in the modern era. Her first-inning call on Joey Wentz looked inside, a decision that spurred immediate debate, yet she settled in and showed improved consistency as the game progressed. Wentz and Cal Quantrill helped by locating pushes into the zone, with 44 of 65 and 29 of 46 strikes respectively through four innings. Xavier Edwards’ inside hit and Pawol’s later calls framed a game where zone fidelity and umpire precision mattered more than ever.

Pawol’s path to MLB featured more than a breakthrough moment: she umpired 1,200+ minor-league games since 2016, worked spring training, and in her first MLB twinbill she also served at first base and checked Hurston Waldrep for substances. The cap from Saturday’s opener found a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, underscoring the symbolic significance of the moment. The narrative sits amid a broader history of barrier-breaking in sports, from Violet Palmer to Sarah Thomas and Stéphanie Frappart, illustrating how each new slate of pioneers reshapes fan expectations and fantasy strategies.

In a remarkable performance, Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge achieved an immaculate inning in the team's 6-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Kittredge struck out three batters on just nine pitches, showcasing exceptional skill with slider pitches that had the Reds swinging wildly. This rare feat, which involves striking out three batters with a minimum of nine pitches, is considered more difficult than throwing a perfect game.

Cubs catcher Carson Kelly noted that he was unaware of Kittredge's pursuit of the immaculate inning until the final pitch, expressing excitement about the achievement. Kittredge, who had faced criticism after allowing four runs in a previous game, responded with this stellar display, providing a much-needed highlight for the Wrigley Field fans who had booed him just a day prior.