Atlanta Braves lineup construction: Where to put Ronald Acuna and Josh Donaldson

The best spot for Donaldson

If we were getting the 2016 version of Josh Donaldson, then I would be all for him hitting second.

But other than a two-week stint before another calf injury, he hasn’t been that MVP-type player for the Atlanta Braves.

On the season he’s hitting .258 with a .375 OBP to go along with 6 home runs and 18 RBI. That RBI total ranks him sixth on the team, and you’d obviously like to see him have more RBI opportunities with his home run power.

Four of his six home runs this year have been of the solo variety.

The clean-up spot is probably the best spot for Donaldson, even though he’s struck out too much for my liking this year. He’s struck out 43 times and in 34 percent of his at-bats.

Hitting fourth he’s likely going to come to the plate a lot with a runner in scoring position. It’s going to frustrate me to no end if he keeps striking out in those spots.

With that mind, I could see Donaldson falling all the way down to fifth or sixth, but that probably won’t happen for fear of upsetting him.

I hate to make it sound like Donaldson is temperamental. I don’t know the guy personally, but that’s just the vibe I get.

He may be a great team player and willing to hit wherever they need him to, and if that’s the case, I’d put him fifth or sixth.