Braves get Ronald Acuna Jr. back for clash vs. Athletics

The Atlanta Braves were crushed in their series opener against the Athletics, but overshadowing the beatdown was the absence of star right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr.

Acuna sat out the game on Tuesday with lower-back stiffness, and the Braves are glad to have the former National League MVP back in the lineup Wednesday night when they face the Athletics at West Sacramento, Calif.

Acuna was scratched about 50 minutes before the start of the 10-1 loss to the A’s, who bashed five homers in the opener of the three-game slate.

The five-time All-Star said he felt a twinge a few hours before first pitch when he was working out.

“The first day of every series is gym day for me,” Acuna said through a translator after the contest. “I was in there and did a movement and kind of felt it tighten up on me.”

The pain prevented Acuna from taking batting practice and led to his later removal from the lineup.

“They treated him the whole game,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said afterward.

The timing of the injury is not ideal.

The All-Star Game is next Tuesday in Atlanta, and Acuna is a starter for the National League. He also is slated to participate in Monday’s Home Run Derby.

However, Acuna didn’t want to look too far ahead.

“I think we need to take it day-by-day and see how I’m feeling,” Acuna said. “My first priority is to be able to rejoin the team and help the guys on the field.”

The Braves certainly could use the help. Monday’s defeat was their fifth in a row and 10th in 12 games as they fell to a season-worst 12 games below .500.

The A’s have their own injury concern as American League starting All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson sustained a left hand contusion when hit by a pitch in the bottom of the first inning and had to exit.

X-rays were negative and Wilson was re-evaluated Wednesday but he didn’t make enough progress to get his name inserted into the starting lineup.

Lawrence Butler hit two homers and Nick Kurtz smacked his first career grand slam as the Athletics sprinted to a 9-0 lead after two innings. All-Star Brent Rooker and Max Muncy also went deep.

Butler’s first homer was an inside-the-parker — the franchise’s first from the leadoff spot since Elmer Valo turned the trick on June 25, 1943 for the Philadelphia A’s. Butler’s drive hit high off the wall in right-center and ricocheted into right.

“When I hit it, I didn’t think I got it that good,” Butler said. “But I was looking at the right fielder and he was looking at the center fielder like he didn’t know where the ball was. Then I looked at the center fielder and he didn’t even move so I was kind of like ‘maybe it’s a home run.’

“Then I saw the ball hit the ground and bounce off and I’m like ‘I got to score.’ That was a crazy play.”

Bryce Elder (2-6, 5.92 ERA) of the Braves and fellow right-hander Mitch Spence (2-4, 4.06) of the A’s will be the starters on Wednesday.

Elder lost to the Los Angeles Angels last Thursday when he gave up four runs and eight hits over five innings in an eventual 5-1 L.A. victory. Elder has one career start against the A’s, throwing seven innings and giving up one run in an eventual 2-1 loss on May 30, 2023. He took a no-decision.

Spence served up three homers while losing to the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5 on July 2. He allowed four runs and seven hits over five innings.

Spence has never faced the Braves.

–Field Level Media