The baseball calendar is quickly approaching the most important time of year, and the dog days of August are nearly behind us. For the Atlanta Braves, an emphasis is placed on maintaining their strong NL East lead while simultaneously building momentum for a postseason run.
But how exactly do the Braves build that momentum through the remainder of the regular season? The short answer: Ronald Acuña Jr. playing like the superstar he is does a lot of the work. The Braves' best player has experienced a frustrating, injury-riddled season, but it can all be made up for if he heats up down the stretch.
The good news is that Acuña Jr. is doing just that during August. In 11 games played this month, the Braves right fielder has an .868 OPS and .381 xwOBA. In The Athletic's recent MLB power rankings article, Acuña Jr.'s knack for late-season production is highlighted, and it should give Braves fans hope that another torrid stretch of baseball is on the horizon for Ronald.
➕1️⃣#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/8HsQMETbvw
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 13, 2026
Ronald Acuña Jr. career numbers in August and September should fire up Braves Country
Acuña Jr. is having a productive August thus far, but it's still below his usual production for the month. Entering Friday, Ronald's career OPS in August is .969, and he has a career .929 OPS for regular season games played in September and October. Acuña Jr. is the type of player who elevates his game in the big moments, and another extended stretch of obliterating baseballs could help spur the Braves to one of the pivotal top-two seeds in the National League.
September and October are the months when stars are supposed to bring their best, and the Braves have two proven clutch commodities in Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson. Still, some time remains before the pressure is truly ramped up, but it's never a bad thing for your best bats to be running hot as you enter an important series.
Whatever questions we all have about the potential October rotation can be alleviated with some high-octane offense. Acuña Jr. has always been the one to set the table for Atlanta's offense; he also brings the competitive juice that allows the team to play at its best. If the Braves' best hitters can build momentum at the same time, they will be as dangerous as any team in October.
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