If you ever wonder whether things can get worse for the Atlanta Braves, they will find a way to prove you wrong. On Tuesday evening, Ronald Acuña Jr. was scratched from the Braves' lineup with what was described as lower back tightness. After the game, Acuña revealed that he tweaked his back while doing his normal weight lifting routine before the game. At the moment, he is considered day-to-day and Atlanta's next steps will be determined by how he feels on Wednesday after getting treatment last night.
In the short term, the obvious concern is that Acuña Jr. may not be available to participate in the Home Run Derby and/or All-Star Game in front of the crowd at Truist Park next week. Acuña Jr. didn't say one way or the other as to if he will be able to participate, but he did say, "My first priority is to be able to rejoin the team and help the guys on the field. So, that's really my first concern."
However, the Braves may have a longer term concern if Acuña Jr. lands on the injured list because Braves fans are running out of reasons to watch this team in 2025.
Braves could lose what is left of fans' interest in 2025 if Ronald Acuña Jr. is out for a while
Here is the problem the Braves currently face. The team very obviously is out of the playoff hunt this year barring one of the greatest turnarounds in baseball history. Tuesday's blowout loss to the Athletics was just further proof that little is changing the Braves' trajectory in 2025. However, fans can at least look forward to watching Acuña doing his thing while the Titanic sinks.
Matt Olson is a fine player, but he isn't chasing any statistical milestones at the moment and the rest of the Braves' lineup is mediocre to terrible this season. 80% of the Braves' Opening Day rotation is currently on the injured list and while Grant Holmes is playing well, he isn't exactly a name to bring out a crowd. Spencer Strider can be that type of draw, but he only throws every fifth game and Strider is also still working his way back to being his normal dominant self.
If Acuña is out for a long time, which is possible with back injuries, what reason do Braves fans have to come out and watch this team right now? The trade deadline could yield some changes that could create some curiosity, but that is about it. One hopes that Acuña's injury is minor, because otherwise this is going to be a looooong second half.