Ronald Acuña Jr. poised to return to Braves lineup

Atlanta right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is expected to be activated from the injured list and rejoin the Braves for their three‑game series in Baltimore that begins on Friday. Manager Walt Weiss said the club is giving Acuña extra at‑bats in Triple‑A with the Gwinnett Stripers to regain timing after a left‑hamstring strain that landed him on the IL on June 9, his second such injury this season. The 2023 MVP has appeared in seven minor‑league games, batting .251/.373/.793 with 15 stolen bases in 53 major‑league games, and has performed well in his rehab assignments.

Weiss indicated Acuña could be cleared as early as Thursday night after a final rehab game, and the team hopes to have him available for the Baltimore series. A brief scare in a recent Triple‑A game – a slip that caused his foot to turn oddly – was later attributed to a cleat catching on dirt, and Acuña was reported fine. The Braves are 37‑16 with Acuña in the lineup and 23‑26 without him, making his return a key boost for the stretch run.

The player’s return is also being watched by fantasy baseball owners, with expectations that he will resume a top‑of‑the‑order role once fully healthy.