Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. is on the injured list for the second time this season with a left hamstring strain and is currently on a rehab assignment.
Acuña was in the lineup for Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday when they faced the Iowa Cubs. However, after a strikeout in the fourth inning, he was seen limping back to the dugout. He went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout. The game was called in the fifth inning due to rain.
Acuña limping back to the dugout is not a good sign, but MLB.com's Mark Bowman reported that it is nothing to worry about.
"Ronald Acuña Jr. is fine. His cleat caught in the dirt during that fourth inning strikeout last night, causing his foot to turn awkwardly. He walked it off and was fine by the time he got to the dugout," Bowman reported on X.
The Braves' lead in the National League East is not as safe as it once was. The Philadelphia Phillies are on their tail, trailing by 4 1/2 games, but closing the gap in a hurry. Getting Acuña back could give the Braves offense a huge boost and help them secure the division. The Braves will need to pass either the Milwaukee Brewers or Los Angeles Dodgers in the standings to secure a bye.
Acuña was hitting .251 with a .793 OPS before hitting the injured list for a second time. However, he had a .270 average with a .907 OPS and five homers in his last 21 games. He was heating up at the plate. If he returns and stays hot, the Braves could go on a great run to finish out the season.