Let’s take a deep breath here because there’s a lot to unpack about this Atlanta Braves outfield situation and the potential ripple effects of Ronald Acuña Jr.’s injury.
If you’ve been watching closely, you know the Braves lineup has serious firepower. When Acuña’s not in there, things look a little thin. MLB’s Mark Bowman dives into his thoughts here.
Let’s break down just what this team is looking at, the lineup challenges, and whether Alex Anthopoulos needs to roll the dice on another outfielder.
The Braves Lineup Without Acuña Jr.
If Acuña’s knee recovery keeps him out for the first six weeks, the potential Opening Day lineup has some notable holes:
- CF: Michael Harris II
- 3B: Austin Riley
- DH: Marcell Ozuna
- 1B: Matt Olson
- 2B: Ozzie Albies
- C: Sean Murphy
- LF: Jarred Kelenic
- RF: Bryan De La Cruz
- SS: Orlando Arcia
Now, that top six? It’s solid. Legitimately strong. But then, yikes. The bottom three suddenly seem like they belong at the bottom of every inning, and, unfortunately, baseball doesn’t allow for a 10th spot.
With guys like Kelenic and De La Cruz rounding things out, the depth really feels shaky. And in the MLB, shaky depth is like inviting a thunderstorm during a picnic.
Enter Acuña and the Game Changes
When Acuña comes back, everything shifts. Here’s a possible order against righties:
- RF: Acuña Jr.
- CF: Harris II
- 3B: Riley
- DH: Ozuna
- 1B: Olson
- 2B: Albies
- C: Murphy
- LF: Kelenic
- SS: Arcia
Suddenly, that lineup is deep. It’s dangerous. You’ve got power, speed, and consistency running right through it. Debating where Riley, Olson, or Ozuna should bat becomes a fun conversation, not a desperate plea to fill gaps. But the key here is Acuña.
Without him, you’re not just missing a guy — you’re missing an MVP-level catalyst who makes everything else click.
And here’s the thing: while Acuña’s return helps fix the offensive depth issue, there are some real concerns about how effective he’ll be post-surgery. This isn’t his first ACL issue.
We saw him rebound in 2022 and then explode in 2023, but can we bank on that level of production right away? If there’s any uncertainty about how quickly he’ll get back to peak form, the argument for grabbing another outfielder grows stronger.
Can the Braves Patchwork This Outfield?
Sure, Kelenic and De La Cruz could hold things down for a couple of months. Maybe they platoon their way into a decent performance. But are you ready to gamble the season’s final stretch on that duo? If your answer is “Eh, not really,” you’re not alone.
The Braves’ current window is wide open — now is not the time to take half-measures. Adding another solid outfielder gives you insurance, flexibility, and peace of mind. And a little peace of mind goes a long way in a season that’ll be dogged by questions about Acuña’s knees and Spencer Strider’s elbow.
But wait — The Braves also have rotation concerns. Strider’s out for a bit, and while Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, and Spencer Schwellenbach defied expectations last year, how long can they keep that up? Adding a reliable starting pitcher might actually be more urgent than shoring up the outfield.
What’s the Move for Anthopoulos?
This is why Anthopoulos has the big job. He’s weighing luxury tax penalties, lineup depth, and rotation stability. He needs to decide if a big trade that might cost top prospects is worth it for a win-now move.
Let’s be honest, this is the window to make those moves. The Braves’ core is elite, and windows like this don’t stay open forever.
So, whether it’s another outfielder, a starter, or both, Braves fans should feel pretty good knowing Anthopoulos isn’t afraid to make the big, painful, but ultimately brilliant moves. After all, as he said, it’s all about making the Major League team better. And with this core? You go for it.
