Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
The Braves won’t have to worry too long about Ronald Acuña Jr. after he got hit in the shoulder by a pitch against the Mets.
Braves fans had reason to worry as Ronald Acuña Jr. left the field in pain after being hit by a pitch against the Mets.
The worry was mercifully short-lived.
Acuña suffered a left shoulder contusion from the 93-mph fastball striking him but x-rays and further imaging showed no fracture, according to the team. He’s now officially day-to-day.
Ronald Acuña Jr. injury update: Braves star day-to-day
Atlanta wrapped up their series with the Mets on Monday with a 5-3 loss in the second half of a double-header. Acuña saw three pitches in that one before he was knocked out of the action.
On Tuesday, the Braves will be in Miami for the start of a three-game series against the Marlins.
Acuña has a history with the Marlins, who have hit him with pitches seven times in his career. No other team has hit him more than four times, a mark the Mets just achieved. So it’ll be interesting to see how the team handles his return to action. If history is a predictor of anything, that’s not the only time this week he’ll have a pitch come his way.
The Braves won’t want to be too cautious on their right fielder though. They’re three games ahead of the Marlins and the Mets in the NL East standings with the Phillies sitting four games behind and getting Bryce Harper back early from Tommy John surgery. Their lead could evaporate quickly.
Atlanta beat the Mets in the first game of the double header. Acuña blasted a third-deck home run as the Braves built a 6-1 lead. However, they had to see off a New York comeback attempt to notch the 9-8 victory.
