Why Ronald Acuña’s return is perfect timing for the Braves

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is continuing his long path back to major league play, and you’ll be able to watch it live on Thursday on Peachtree Sports Network.

Acuña will the Braves Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers as they take on the Charlotte Knights at Coolray Field in Gwinnett at 7:05 p.m. Thursday. Coverage begins at 7 p.m.

But his return couldn’t have been better timing for Atlanta.

The Braves are playing better

Atlanta is 21-15 since starting the regular season 0-7. It’s a 90+ win pace and it’s happening without Acuña, the 2023 NL MVP.

Any team would be thrilled to have Acuña. His presence will certainly be a welcome one.

Acuña had surgery on his left ACL on June 6, 2024, limiting him to just 49 games last season. He hit .250 with four homers in 2024, one year after hitting 41 home runs with 73 steals and a .337 batting average en route to a National League MVP Award.

The outfield is bleak

Atlanta’s outfield currently consists of Michael Harris II, Stuart Fairchild, Alex Verdugo and Eli White.

While it’s been getting the job done, it isn’t the highly anticipated Acuña-Harris-Jurickson Profar trio that fans were expecting in spring training. Profar is currently serving an 80-game suspension for testing positive for PEDs.

Upon Acuña’s arrival and Profar’s eventual return, the Braves could have one of the league’s best outfields in time.

The fans want their stars

Two of Atlanta’s biggest stars -- Acuña and Spencer Strider -- are currently recovering from their respective injuries that forced them to miss the majority of 2024.

The team is clearly not the same without them. Now, the team could have both return in the next three weeks.

Strider threw a simulated game on Wednesday, and manager Brian Snitker said the team will talk to Strider on Thursday to see how he feels and go from there. Barring any further setback, Strider is in line to start for the Braves next week in Washington D.C. against the Nationals.

Here’s where Peachtree Sports Network is available:

• Over the air
  • Atlanta – 17.2 – WPCH
• Comcast
  • Atlanta Stone Mountain: Channels 239 and 1193
  • Atlanta Vinings: Channels 239 and 119
  • Calhoun-Gordon County: Channels 248 and 1193
  • Rome: Channels 286 and 1193
  • Winder: Channels 209 and 1193
• Xfinity
• Spectrum
• FuboTV
• YouTube TV

How to watch Braves on Gray

Gray Media will simulcast these 15 Atlanta Braves games throughout the Southeast this season.

Fans can watch the Braves on Gray by tuning into PeachtreeTV, Atlanta’s CW Network. Fans can also watch games on YouTube TV, over the air on channel 17.1 and on channel 17 on Dish Network and DirecTV and channel 7 on Xfinity and Spectrum.

If you are in another market outside of Atlanta, you can find your channel at BravesOnGray.com.