The Braves are awaiting an update on the status of star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who suffered a stomach strain that left him out of the game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Sunday night.
Acuna will be screened on Monday, a brave off-day, in New York. Atlanta will play the Yankees in a two-match series starting Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters that Sunday’s game ended too late for Acuna to take the required exams in Chicago.
“So they’ll get it in New York tomorrow and we’ll know more by then,” Snitker said, per MLB.com.
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In the fourth inning, Akuna suffered an injury to Acuna based on a pickoff attempt from Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras. He later pointed to his right hand several times. He stayed in the game after Snitker and an instructor came out to talk with him at second base, where he had proceeded for a walk. Akuan later scored the first blow to the head in the end, with a double play sacrificed at the end. He again caught up on his stomach, and that’s when Snitker took him out of the game.
The 23-year-old Akuna set aside the Braves’ offense this season with a 13-4 win over Atlanta on Sunday. He leads the team with seven home runs, 16 RBIs and a .419 batting average (1.373 OPS). His dazzling debut has elevated his superstar status within baseball.
Atlanta are officially short in the outfield on the list of injuries to both Ander Insierte (hamstring) and Cristian Pache (groin). Acuna, Guillermo Heredia and Marcell Ozuna are the only outfielder listed on the Braves’ 26-man roster. But third baseman Austin Riley and reserve infielder Johann Camargo and Ari Adrinja have all played the outfield at the Majors.
Heredia, the center fielder of Atlanta, scored a stunning slam against the Cubs on Sunday with a pair of six home runs.
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