The Atlanta Braves defeated the Washington Nationals, 9-4, in Game 1 of what will be a four-game series at Nationals Park. The two teams will meet again for Game 2 on April 21.
In Game 1, Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was hit twice by pitches in the fourth and sixth innings. He would end up leaving the game in the bottom of the sixth. He later underwent X-rays that were revealed to be negative and was listed as day-to-day.
Acuña ended the game going 0-for-1 with one strikeout while scoring a run. Luckily for Atlanta, the Braves broke things open in the sixth, scoring five runs to take back the lead.
While the win was nice, adding to the Braves’ lead in the National League East at 16-7, the bigger concern was Acuña’s health.
Braves Get Encouraging Ronald Acuña Jr. Update
Hours before the 6:45 p.m. EST start time, the Braves announced their starting lineup against the Nationals on social media. Much to the delight of Braves fans, Acuña was slotted into his usual spot leading off.
Braves beat writer Mark Bowman confirmed as well: “Acuna is in tonight’s lineup.”
According to Bowman, Acuña actually left the game without speaking to reporters, which was a little concerning.
“But the sense seems to be he could play tomorrow,” Bowman wrote shortly after Game 1.
Braves manager Walt Weiss also sounded encouraged early on with Acuña’s status.
“Ronnie is OK,” Weiss said. “X-rays were negative. He’s going to be fine.”
Though he hasn’t been as hot as some of the other’s in the lineup, Acuña is still an integral part of the Braves lethal offense that’s at the top of the MLB in most statistical categories.
Acuña is slashing .244/.359/.360 with an OPS of .903. He has just one home run on the season with five RBI, 13 walks and 20 strikeouts.
Ronald Acuña Jr.’s Health Will Remain Major Braves Storyline
The Braves are no stranger to Acuña being out of the lineup over the last several years. Going back to 2021, he has suffered two ACL tears, one in each knee on separate occasions. His most recent came during the middle of the 2024 season.
He played in 82 games in 2021 and 49 in 2024. Last year, he appeared in just under 100 games (95) while recovering from the ACL tear in his left knee.
Acuña has yet to miss a game during the 2026 season so far, playing in all 23 games. That said, it will be interesting to see how many games he ends up playing when the season concludes.
The most he has played in a single season was 159 games back in 2023, which is also the year he won the National League MVP. That season, he made MLB history with 41 home runs and 73 stolen bases.
He has played in more than 100 games only four times in his career.
- 2018: 111
- 2019: 156
- 2022: 119
- 2023: 159
Braves Get Good Ronald Acuña Jr. News Ahead of Nationals Game