Ronald Acuña Jr. is officially back in the lineup on Monday, getting activated from the injured list, and if you thought the Braves were scary before, just wait. The former MVP outfielder, all of 28 years old, is returning from a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since June 9. This isn’t just a regular activation, folks; this is the strong getting stronger right as they’re hitting their stride.
The Braves’ Wild Ride From Tailspin to Top Spot
Let’s rewind a bit because what the Braves have pulled off recently is pure grit. They hit a rough patch, no doubt, from the last three weeks of June right into the All-Star break. We’re talking a brutal 9-19 record between June 9 and July 11. That massive 10 ½-game lead they had in the NL East? It evaporated down to just two games. Talk about a heart attack moment for their fans! But then something clicked. They snagged a win in their last game before the break, and since then, they’ve been on fire. This team has ripped off a 7-3 record since the All-Star break, averaging a blistering six runs per game, piling up 60 runs in just 10 outings. That lead in the NL East is now back up to 5 ½ games, picking up 3 ½ games on the Phillies just in the last stretch. Braves manager Walt Weiss nailed it after Sunday’s extra-innings win: “After a rough June, grinding through that and coming out the other end and still being in first place, it’s going to serve us well in the long run. You make deposits into the bank of mental toughness when you do things like that.” You can’t argue with that kind of resolve.
Acuña’s Return: What He Brings to a Hot Lineup
Now, add Acuña back into that red-hot mix. He hasn’t had his usual monster season, hitting .251/.373/.421 (119 OPS+) with 10 doubles, seven homers, 22 RBI, 31 runs, and 15 steals in 53 games before the injury. For anyone else, those are great numbers, but for a talent like Acuña, we know his upside is immense. Imagine the chaos he creates on the bases and the pop he can add to an offense that’s already averaging six runs a game. Even if he’s not at peak MVP form immediately, his presence in the order is a game-changer. The offense, already firing, should be just fine with him back.
The Braves kick off a three-game series visiting the Mets on Monday. After that, they head home for four games against the Nationals, all before the trade deadline. Expect them to eye some bullpen help and potentially beef up the rotation. With Acuña injecting even more life into this lineup, that’s a dangerous team heading into a critical stretch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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