Braves News: Ronald Acuña Jr heading to injured list, Austin Riley, Sean Murphy updates and more

The Atlanta Braves were able to end a two-game skid and avoid a sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates with an 8-1 victory on Sunday, but they may have lost Ronald Acuña Jr. for a while longer. to be determined. Acuña left Sunday’s game in the first inning after his left knee appeared to collapse during a steal attempt. He collapsed to the ground in pain. He was helped to his feet by the Braves training staff and eventually left the field visibly limping.

After the game, Acuña told reporters that he didn’t think the injury was as serious as the torn ACL he suffered in his right knee in 2021. He compared it to the sprained knee that he suffered in Boston during his rookie season when he awkwardly crossed first base. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Sunday evening and the results are expected on Monday.

Acuña hasn’t been able to replicate his MVP numbers from a year ago two months into the season, but he remains a tough player for the Braves to replace. Adam Duvall moved to right field on Sunday with Jarred Kelenic taking over in left. The Braves will likely call up Forrest Wall from Gwinnett on Monday to take Acuña’s spot on the roster.

More Braves news

Matt Olson hit his eighth home run of the season and Chris Sale delivered another masterpiece on the mound as Atlanta ended a two-game skid with an 8-1 victory over the Pirates. Atlanta finished its six-game road trip with a 3-3 record and is now 30-20 for the season. Olson’s homer was the 73rd to land in the Allegheny River. Olson is one of three players to hit more than one home run in the river.

During their six-game road trip, the Braves struggled to deliver with runners in scoring position. Despite taking two of three from the Cubs to start the trip, Atlanta was only 3 of 31 with runners in scoring position. They went 6 for 21 and left 18 men on base in the three games in Pittsburgh.

With Acuña on the injured list, the Braves hope to have two key pieces back on Monday. Austin Riley and Sean Murphy are expected to return. Riley has missed the last two weeks with left side tightness while Murphy has been on the injured list since opening day with an oblique strain.

MLB News

MLB teams are reportedly considering the possibility of Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki being shown during the 2024-25 offseason.

Injured Phillies shortstop Trea Turner stepped up in his return from a hamstring injury, but has been experiencing some soreness and the club will be on the back foot indefinitely.

Red Sox reliever Chris Martin and Brewers first base coach Quintin Berry had to be separated during Sunday’s game at Fenway Park. Martin covered first base on a Christian Yelich groundout, then passed Berry when the two started yelling at each other. Martin was apparently bothered by the Brewers bruins twice during the inning.

The Royals placed second baseman Michael Massey on the 10-man injured list with a sprained ligament in his lower back. Infielder Nick Lofting was called up to take Massey’s place on the active roster.