The Atlanta Braves successfully snapped a two-game skid and avoided a sweep to the Pittsburgh Pirates with an 8-1 win Sunday, but may have lost Ronald Acuña Jr. for a yet to be determined amount of time. Acuña left Sunday’s game in the first inning after his left knee appeared to collapse on an attempted steal. He crumpled to the ground in pain. He was helped to his feet by the Braves’ training staff and ultimately walked off the field with a noticeable limp.
Following the game, Acuña told reporters that he didn’t think the injury was as serious as the torn ACL that he suffered in his right knee in 2021. He compared it to the sprained knee that he suffered in Boston during his rookie season when he ran across first base awkwardly. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam Sunday night with the results expected for Monday.
Acuña hasn’t been able to duplicate the MVP numbers of a year ago two months into the season, but he is still a difficult player for the Braves to replace. Adam Duvall moved to right field Sunday with Jarred Kelenic taking over in left. The Braves will likely call up Forrest Wall from Gwinnett Monday to take Acuña’s spot on the roster.
More Braves News
Matt Olson hit his eighth homer of the season and Chris Sale turned in another masterpiece on the mound as Atlanta snapped a two-game skid with an 8-1 win over the Pirates. Atlanta completed their six-game road trip with a 3-3 record and are now 30-20 for the season. Olson’s homer was the 73rd to land in the Allegheny River. Olson is one of three players to hit more than one homer into the river.
During their six game road trip, the Braves struggled to deliver with runners in scoring position. Despite taking two of three from the Cubs to begin the trip, Atlanta was just 3-for-31 with runners in scoring position. They went 6-for-21 and left 18 men on base during the three games in Pittsburgh.
While Acuña is headed to the injured list, the Braves are hoping to get two key pieces back Monday. Both Austin Riley and Sean Murphy are expected to return. Riley has missed the last two weeks due to tightness in his left side while Murphy has been on the injured list since Opening Day due to an oblique strain.
MLB News
MLB Teams are reportedly planning for the possibility that Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki will be posted during the 2024-25 offseason.
Injured Phillies shortstop Trea Turner had been ramping up in his return from a hamstring injury but experienced some soreness and the club is going to back things off for an undetermined amount of time.
Red Sox reliever Chris Martin and Brewers first base coach Quintin Berry had to be separated in Sunday’s game at Fenway Park. Martin covered first base on a ground out by Christian Yelich and then walked past Berry when the two began shouting at each other. Martin was apparently bothered by the Brewers bunting twice in the inning.
The Royals placed second baseman Michael Massey on the 10-injured list with a ligament sprain in his lower back. Infielder Nick Lofting was recalled to take Massey’s spot on the active roster.
