Braves place Lane Thomas on injured list after batting cage tweak

Atlanta Braves outfielder Lane Thomas will be placed on the 10-day injured list after tweaking his left intercostal muscle while swinging in the batting cage before Thursday’s game against Tampa Bay. The injury forced him to be scratched shortly before first pitch, and its severity and recovery timeline remain unclear, though it could threaten the rest of his regular season. Thomas has struggled since joining Atlanta at the trade deadline, batting .171 with a .578 OPS and one home run in 21 games. Dominic Smith replaced him as the designated hitter while Brewer Hicklen moved to left field, and Kyle Farmer could also receive additional opportunities, particularly against left-handed pitching. Atlanta defeated Tampa Bay 3-0 and will next host the Philadelphia Phillies.