The Braves may have found a cleaner way to keep Ronald Acuña Jr. in the lineup without asking him to do everything.
For Friday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta listed Acuña as the designated hitter rather than in right field. It’s his fifth game at DH since coming off the injured list on July 27, and it gives the Braves a different kind of balance - one built around offense, defense, and keeping Acuña out of the outfield grind.
That matters because Atlanta has already been hit hard by injuries this season. Acuña has missed 52 games, and moving him off the grass lowers the risk that comes with having him cover ground in right field every night.
He’s one of the game’s best hitters, but the glove has not matched the bat in that spot. Since 2022, he has posted -34 outs above average in right field, including -6 this season in limited work.
The switch also opens the door for a better defensive setup around him. Mike Yastrzemski takes over in right field, and the Braves are facing right-hander Brandon Pfaadt on Friday. Yastrzemski, a left-handed hitter, has handled righties well this year with a .741 OPS.
Mauricio Dubón is in left field, and his split numbers have been more favorable against lefties, but he’s also been producing for months. Atlanta is clearly trying to stack its best available pieces into the right places.
Behind the plate, Acuña’s DH spot means Drake Baldwin has to catch. Baldwin has been serviceable there, but his bat is what really changes the equation.
He has 20 home runs and an .812 OPS, which is a much bigger offensive punch than Sean Murphy has provided. Murphy is the steadier defender, but Baldwin’s offense makes him the more valuable choice in the lineup.
Atlanta has had plenty to like under first-year manager Walt Weiss. As of Aug. 14, the Braves were 73-48 and sitting comfortably atop the National League East, nine games ahead of the Phillies. They also trailed the Brewers by one and a half games for the NL’s No. 1 seed.
As for Acuña, the early returns in August have been loud. The 28-year-old has been scorching to start the month, slugging .556 in 48 plate appearances. If the DH role sticks, the Braves may have found the cleanest way to get his bat into the lineup while protecting the rest of the roster around him.
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