Braves-Padres preview: Ronald Acuña Jr. returns, Chris Sale looks to stay dominant

ATLANTA, Ga. - Ronald Acuña Jr. was activated from the injured list by the Atlanta Braves on Friday, almost one year after he tore the ACL in his left knee.

The Braves announced the move before Friday night’s game against the San Diego Padres.

In Augusta, you can watch the game on Channel 26.2 over the air, 252 on Xfinity, 27 on DirecTV, 27 on AT&T Uverse or 12 on Wow.

Infielder Orlando Arcia, a 2023 All-Star, was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for Acuña, who was expected to hit leadoff and start in right field.

Braves manager Brian Snitker announced after Thursday night’s 8-7 loss at Washington that Acuña would make his season debut on Friday night.

Acuña, the 2023 NL MVP, hurt his left knee last May 26 and had surgery on June 6. He played six games in the minors on a rehab assignment, going 6 for 15 with two home runs. He was scratched before Thursday night’s game for Triple-A Gwinnett as the team made plans for him to the Atlanta roster.

Acuña played in only 49 games last season, batting .250 with four homers, 15 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and a .716 OPS.

He was a unanimous winner of the NL MVP award in 2023 when he hit .336 with 41 home runs, 106 RBIs and a league-leading 1.012 OPS. Acuña also stole 73 bases that year to become the only player with 40 homers and 70 steals in one season.

Here’s what to know going into the weekend:

Braves-Padres pitching probables

Friday, 7:15 p.m. – LHP Chris Sale vs. RHP Nick Pivetta
Saturday, 4:10 p.m. – RHP Grant Holmes vs. RHP Michael King
Sunday, 4:10 p.m. – RHP Spencer Schwellenbach vs. RHP Dylan Cease

Chris Sale, Grant Holmes and Spencer Schwellenbach are getting the nod in Atlanta’s three-game set against San Diego. As for the Padres, right-handers Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Dylan Cease will take the mound.

Sale has been remarkable for Atlanta throughout the past couple of weeks. In his last five starts, Sale has a 1.72 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 31.1 innings.

He leads a rotation that now has a healthy Strider (0-2, 5.79 ERA) along with Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver and Grant Holmes. Bryce Elder was the odd man out when sculpting the rotation. Elder had a 3.10 ERA in 29 innings dating back to April 23 before he was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on May 15.

All three Padres righties have the stuff to fool a seemingly mediocre Braves team. However, Cease hasn’t been what he’s been in the past. So far this season, Cease has a 4.50 ERA in 54 innings.

Nonetheless, all eyes will be on one Braves superstar to see how he responds to San Diego’s array of right-handers.

Braves and Padres hitters to watch

Braves: Well, that’s an easy one. Ronald Acuña Jr.! The 27-year-old is set to make his season debut on Friday against San Diego, and it’ll certainly be a welcome one. Acuña hit .417 with a 1.465 OPS and a solo home run in five rehab games in Triple-A. He had seven walks in 19 plate appearances.

Besides Acuña, one standout among the Braves’ struggling lineup is 24-year-old Drake Baldwin. The rookie is hitting .337 with five home runs and 15 RBIs through 30 games, making a solid case alongside right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver for NL Rookie of the Year. Baldwin is currently platooning behind the plate with Sean Murphy, but the team keeps finding ways to slot him into the lineup. Rightfully so.

Padres: The fun guys to watch are obviously Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado and Luis Arraez. All pack a punch at the top of a well-rounded lineup. However, the Padres have lost six in a row. The team may have all the power in the world, but it’ll need to get past a recently dominant southpaw in Sale and an on-the-rise right-hander in Schwellenbach this weekend.