The Atlanta Braves have lost nearly every series for the last three weeks of the regular season, with a clear correlation between this and the loss of Ronald Acuna Jr. When the Braves have had the 2023 MVP in the lineup, they have been the league's best team and a top-five offense seemingly incapable of losing a series. Losing Acuna has broken the Atlanta offense and sent the Braves into a tailspin fans can only hope comes to an end as the calendar turns to July.
It should be noted here as well that regression from the pitching staff and Drake Baldwin have both been huge factors in Atlanta's collapse as well. This isn't all on the shoulders of Acuna, while his impact and energy have unquestionably been missed in the last weeks of the season. Without Acuna, it seems the Braves are painfully average and left searching for answers.
A big piece of this is the fact that it forces Mauricio Dubon into the outfield, consistently leaving shortstop as a sure out. Ha-Seong Kim has been one of the biggest free-agency busts in recent memory, and the Braves have yet to give up on the shortstop.
All of this adds up to pointing out the incredible importance of Acuna in the lineup and the issues it has created for the veteran to be on the shelf.
Braves Offense Clearly Dealing with Concerning Limits without Ronald Acuna Jr.
What is so interesting about this is the fact that even when Acuna has been in Atlanta's lineup, the outfielder hasn't been living up to typical expectations. Acuna has hit .251 with seven homers and 15 stolen bases, just starting to scratch the surface of his ability as a power producer and not hitting for nearly as high an average as Braves fans are used to watching.
Still, the absence of the veteran has been unquestionable with his hamstring injury and loss perfectly lining up with Atlanta's recent collapse. What will be interesting to watch is whether or not the team opts to make any meaningful changes to attempt to offset the recent struggles it has be taken into account what this offense looks like without Acuna in a starring role.
It is a level of struggle that should invite the Braves to begin to consider the future of Acuna and what a possible extension could look like. No question, Acuna's loss has been felt and will continue to be an issue until the outfielder is able to put the hamstring injury behind him and step back into the starting lineup.
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