Braves forced to send superstar back on IL amid MLB’s best start
The Atlanta Braves are firing on all cylinders, leading Major League Baseball with a 24-10 record.
The franchise looked forward to adding All-Star pitcher Spencer Strider to its starting rotation to keep the hot streak going. The Braves are seeking a sweep against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, May 3, in Denver.
Unfortunately, the Braves announced a roster move alongside Strider’s activation that is all too familiar to Atlanta fans.
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The team placed superstar outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. on the 10-day injured list. He strained his left hamstring during Saturday’s 9-1 victory over the Rockies.
Injuries piling up
Before heading to the IL, Acuna played all 34 games for the Braves this season. He endured a slow start by his standards, turning in a slash line of .262/.362/.378 with two home runs, nine RBIs and seven stolen bases.
Atlanta hopes the injury will not cost Acuna as much playing time as a pair of knee injuries that kept him out for months in 2021 and 2024.
“We’ll see the severity of it,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said after Saturday’s game, per ESPN . “I didn’t like the way it looked. Ronnie is starting to swing the bat. We’ll see what happens. Hopefully, if he is out, it’ll be short term.”
Since his NL MVP season in 2023, Acuna has played just 178 out of a possible 358 games.
In May 2024, Acuna tore the ACL in his left knee after making an awkward move on the bases. He missed the rest of the season and returned to action in May 2025. Acuna also missed time with calf strain later in the season.
Acuna’s first big injury came in July 2021, when he suffered an ACL tear in his right knee while making a catch in the outfield.
What it means for Braves
Considering Acuna was off to a poor start, Atlanta should be able to absorb the loss for the short term. Eli White , who replaced Acuna in the lineup Saturday, will share time with Mauricio Dubon and Jose Azocar in right field.
Plus, getting Strider back should help Atlanta’s rotation.
Ultimately, though, the Braves will need a healthy Acuna to make a run at unseating the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers .
