Acuna's injury occurred during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Acuna was leading the major leagues in on-base percentage (.416) and hits (212) before the injury
Ronald Acuna Jr. suffered a season-ending ACL injury on May 26, 2024
The Braves will need to adjust their lineup without Acuna's presence
This is Acuna's second ACL tear in his career
Ronald Acuna Jr., the star outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, suffered a season-ending injury on May 26, 2024. During a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Acuna tore his left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while attempting a delayed steal in the first inning. This marks Acuna's second ACL tear in his career; he previously injured his right knee during the 2021 season.
Acuna's injury is a significant blow to the Braves, who were already dealing with another major setback. Starting pitcher Spencer Strider underwent reconstructive Tommy John surgery on his elbow and will miss most of the 2025 season.
The Braves had high hopes for Acuna in 2024 after he led the major leagues in on-base percentage (.416) and hits (212) and finished first in the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) race during the 2023 season. In just 48 games this year, Acuna hit .246 with a .348 on-base percentage.
Acuna's injury occurred as he attempted to steal third base in the first inning against Pirates starter Martín Pérez. He twisted awkwardly while changing directions and fell to the ground, clutching his knee in pain. The Braves announced that Acuna would undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the 2024 season.
The Braves will need to adjust their lineup without Acuna's presence. They have already acquired three outfielders before the trade deadline to fill in for him, but it remains to be seen how they will fare in his absence. The team currently sits six games behind the first-place Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.
Acuna's injury is a reminder of the risks involved with playing professional sports and highlights the importance of maintaining good health. He is expected to make a full recovery and return to action for the 2025 season.
Max Fried and Chris Sale had good performances during the road trip
Offense was inconsistent and frustrating to watch
Braves are now 11-11 in May
Sean Murphy served as DH for Gwinnett Sunday and could return to lineup for first time since Opening Day
Accuracy
Atlanta Braves won 8-1 against Pittsburgh Pirates to avoid a sweep
Ronald Acuña Jr. injured his left knee and undergoing additional testing, likely won’t have an update until Monday at earliest
Ronald Acuña Jr. tore his left ACL and will miss the remainder of the baseball season.
Deception
(80%)
The article contains editorializing and selective reporting. The author expresses frustration with the Braves' offense and their inability to score runs with runners in scoring position, implying that this is a new problem. However, they also mention that the team entered the series against Pittsburgh with a higher wRC+ (119) with runners in scoring position than their season average (106), which contradicts the implication of consistent struggles. The author also uses emotional language when describing Ronald Acuna Jr.'s injury and dismisses the team's announcement as an understatement.
Atlanta was 6-for-21 with runners in scoring position and left 18 men on base over the three games in Pittsburgh.
The Braves took two of three from the Cubs in Chicago but were 3-for-31 with runners in scoring position. The Braves scored five runs in Friday’s opener against the Pirates, but all five of those runs came after they trailed 11-0. They fell on Saturday 4-1 before rallying for an 8-1 win Sunday.
The mood from Sunday’s win was dampened by the loss of Ronald Acuña Jr., who left the game in the first inning after injuring his left knee. The Braves announced that Acuña was dealing with soreness, which was a painfully obvious understatement to anyone that watched the game or saw the video after the fact.
