Ozzie Albies injury: Braves win streak takes concerning turn

The Atlanta Braves are on an excellent run but things will get tougher with Ozzie Albies going down injured against the Nationals.

Even during the best of times, a setback may always be around the corner.

Ozzie Albies and the Braves were presented with that problem on Monday when the second baseman suffered a freak injury.

In the top of the fifth inning against the Nationals, Albies grounded out to third but as he turned to start running toward first, he immediately hit the deck with a lower leg injury. Orlando Arcia took his place in the infield as a result.

Ozzie Albies injury: Brave star suffers broken foot

Initially, there was fear that Albies had suffered a torn ligament of some sort. Fortunately, the team delivered some different news. He suffered a serious injury, just not one as serious as it could have been.

He fractured his foot.

Fracturing a bone in the foot simply by stepping the wrong way truly is unlucky. In another sense, Albies is somewhat lucky that it was a fracture and not a tear. The fracture will force him to miss significant time, likely numbered in months, but a ligament tear likely would have ended his season.

Depending on the severity of the fracture, he should be able to return later this summer.

The Braves entered Monday’s game against Washington on an 11-game winning streak. They entered the seventh inning with an 8-5 lead with an eye on a 12th straight win.

Albies, who was an All-Star last year, is batting .246/.289/.408 this season with eight home runs, 33 RBI and three stolen bases.