One of these days, a series between the Atlanta Braves and the Marlins won't involve some sort of dumb hit by pitch drama. Going back to Jose Ureña throwing at Ronald Acuña Jr. and former Miami manager Don Mattingly going "old school" at every available opportunity, there always seems to be some nonsense when the Braves take Miami on. Unfortunately, that remained true on Wednesday, although the exact details were a bit different.
In the third inning, Marlins starter Ryan Gusto served a pitch on a platter to Matt Olson who promptly crushed a two-run homer to deep center. Other than the ball being destroyed, there weren't any theatrics and Olson isn't the type to admire his work too long anyways.
However, on the very next pitch Gusto threw after giving up the homer, he hit Acuña Jr. with a 93 mph fastball. Given Ronald's history with the Marlins, he was understandably pissed and made sure his displeasure known. Benches did clear, but it was pretty performative and nothing came close to coming of it.
Benches cleared after Ronald Acuña was hit by an inside pitch after Matt Olson homered
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 27, 2025
Marlins broadcaster was saying if Acuña was really that mad he should've charged him pic.twitter.com/fvlgByRoop
Unfortunately, that is not how home plate umpire Tyler Jones saw it as he immediately gave warnings to both benches even though the Braves had done nothing to warrant it. Manager Brian Snitker took issue with that decision and was tossed from the game.
Brian Snitker has a point about umpire's decision to handcuff Braves after Ronald Acuña Jr. HBP
Actually retaliating to a HBP from a pitcher who pretty clearly didn't have his best stuff isn't a good idea nor does it help anyone, but the only ones that got punished here were the Braves. Acuña Jr. is the one who had to wear a fastball for no reason other than Gusto's lack of command and/or his frustration over giving up the homer. The Braves now had to use kid gloves the rest of the game to guard against getting ejected while Gusto and the Marlins got to drill the Braves' best hitter and continue to suck at baseball like they have for the last several years.
There has to be some common sense here from the umpire here. If you think Gusto did act with intent, you have to throw him out of the game and then giving warnings to both benches feels warranted. If not, you let Acuña Jr. get his frustrations over getting drilled in a question spot out verbally and assuming everyone behaves beyond that, everyone moves on. All the umpire did was protect Miami here.
As a result, Snitker had every right to get upset. There has to at least be the threat of consequences of hitting guys even if the Braves ended up doing nothing about it. If opposing pitches can drill Acuña Jr. or whoever and then umpires do nothing to those that do it except protect them, this sort of thing is going to start happening more and more often. Be better, MLBUA.