The Atlanta Braves giving up on the season isn't exactly headline news as the club sits double-digit games below .500 with the majority of its starting staff on the injured list.
Currently, the Braves are missing Austin Riley, Spencer Schwellenbach, Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, Joe Jimenez, and AJ Smith-Shawver. Add in a refusal to add needed depth ahead of the 2025 season, and it isn't difficult to put the pieces together of what has gone wrong this year. It cannot be overlooked that both Michael Harris and Ozzie Albies are in the middle of the worst seasons of their respective careers.
With this in mind, the Braves opting to hold Ronald Acuña Jr. out of Wednesday's lineup ahead of an off day doesn't come as a surprise. MLB.com's Mark Bowman not only revealed that news, but also hinted that the Braves could plan on giving Acuña as much rest as possible when it comes to "afternoon games.
Acuña will rest his legs during this afternoon’s game and during tomorrow’s offday. Makes sense to do this frequently with afternoon games over the rest of the season
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) July 23, 2025
This decision is on the heels of a second serious knee injury for the 2023 National League MVP, and with Acuña being the most important piece on this roster, the decision to hold him out signals this fact.
Braves are More Interested in Protecting Ronald Acuña Jr. Than Winning
The Braves owe it to the star to do everything in their power to maintain the hot start and protect him from injuries moving forward. In what is a lost season, this is especially the case with this move proving that the Braves now understand and accept that the rest of the year is lost. Teams aren't holding their best player out of the game if they're attempting to make a World Series run.
Putting Acuña on the bench signals the team is waving the white flag and starting to think about next year. It is hard to argue that this isn't the correct approach with the current standings. Finding their way back into the postseason picture would take a run even Hollywood wouldn't believe. Atlanta's season is over, and with this comes some level of responsibility to protect your players and begin building for the 2026 season.
In 50 games since making his season debut in late May, Acuña is slashing .320/.437/.601 with 13 home runs, 24 RBIs, 37 walks, and a 2.8 WAR.
Acuña is the future for the Braves and is deserving of immense respect when it comes to his ceiling in the years to come. It is this understanding that explains the move and why Atlanta shouldn't be judged for punting on the rest of the year.
The Braves must take a look in the mirror, understanding what has brought them here and what must change to turn the corner in 2026.