Ronald Acuña Jr. is officially back in the lineup! After missing almost seven weeks with a left hamstring strain, the 2023 National League MVP was activated from the injured list on Monday. He is expected to be ready to roll for Monday night’s series opener against the New York Mets. This is massive news for the Atlanta Braves as they look to keep their grip on the NL East.
Acuña’s Comeback Changes Everything For The Braves
This is not just any activation; it is Acuña Jr. coming back, and you know what that means for opposing pitchers. The guy is a five-time All-Star, and even with a season shortened by two hamstring injuries, he is still batting .251 with seven home runs, 22 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. Think about that production, even while battling injuries! He missed 15 games back in May with the *same* hamstring issue, and then again from June 9. When he went on the IL then, the Braves were looking unstoppable, leading the majors at 45-23 and holding an eight-game lead over Philadelphia in the NL East.
They hit a bit of a rough patch in June without their superstar, but bounced back strong after the All-Star break. Now, at 62-43, they are sitting 5.5 games ahead of the second-place Phillies. Manager Walt Weiss says Acuña Jr. will primarily play right field, his usual spot, even though he split rehab time at designated hitter. This dude has battled through some serious stuff, too, with two previous torn ACLs in his career in 2021 and 2024. Talk about grit! To make room, the Braves optioned Brewer Hicklen to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Injuries Mount For A’s, Cubs Make A Tough Call
While one superstar returns, other teams are dealing with brutal injury news. The Oakland Athletics just got hit with a double whammy: All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers and right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. are both headed for season-ending surgeries on Tuesday. Langeliers, who is only 28, is getting surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee. Before the injury, he was absolutely raking, hitting .263 with 23 homers and 51 RBIs in just 93 games. He even became the first A’s catcher to start an All-Star Game since 1989! This is a huge loss, especially when he was already the subject of trade rumors as the A’s struggle through another disappointing season.
Leiter Jr., 35, is going under the knife for a right hip impingement, which is his second time on the injured list for that hip this year. He has been an absolute shutdown reliever, not allowing a run in 17 of his last 18 games, posting a ridiculous 0.50 ERA in that stretch. Overall, he is 0-1 with a 4.28 ERA and four saves in 36 relief appearances. Tough luck for both those guys.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs made a big roster move, officially designating pitcher Jameson Taillon for assignment. This clears a spot for Andrew Wantz to get called up. Taillon had spent four seasons with the Cubs after signing a four-year, $68 million deal in 2022, but he really struggled this season, putting up a 2-5 record with a 5.92 ERA in 76 innings pitched. Sometimes you just gotta make those tough calls, even on big contracts.
Rounding out the injury report, the Cincinnati Reds placed infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer on the 10-day injured list due to right wrist pain. He left Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals after fouling a pitch off his bat. Man, you just hate to see those kinds of nagging injuries pop up. With Acuña Jr. back, the Braves are going to be a force, but those A’s injuries are a real gut punch. It just shows how every game, every pitch, and every play can change the trajectory of a season. Let’s see how these teams adapt and what big moments are coming next!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply