Atlanta Braves star right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. was back in the starting lineup for Wednesday night’s road game against the Athletics one night after being scratched due to lower back tightness.
Acuna said after Tuesday’s 10-1 loss that he hurt the back while working out prior to the contest in West Sacramento, Calif.
Acuna, 27, is batting .331 with nine homers and 18 RBIs in 40 games after missing nearly 12 months due to an ACL injury.
Acuna is a starting outfielder for next Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Atlanta. He is also slated to participate in the Home Run Derby next Monday.
This is the fifth All-Star nod for the 2023 National League MVP.
Also, Athletics rookie standout Jacob Wilson (left hand contusion) is not in Wednesday’s lineup after being hit by a pitch from Braves right-hander Didier Fuentes on Tuesday. Wilson exited after the first-inning at-bat and X-rays were negative.
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay termed Wilson as day-to-day prior to Wednesday’s game.
Wilson is slated to be the starting shortstop for the American League. The 23-year-old is batting .335 with nine homers and 42 RBIs in 85 games.
Max Muncy is starting at shortstop for the A’s on Wednesday.
Fuentes, 20, served up three first-inning homers and was charged with eight runs in one-plus innings on Tuesday. The Braves optioned Fuentes (0-3, 13.85 ERA) to Triple-A Gwinnett following the contest and recalled right-hander Nathan Wiles on Wednesday.
Wiles, 27, is 4-7 with a 3.33 ERA in 15 starts for Gwinnett. His lone major league appearance came on April 22 when he allowed three runs and four hits in one inning of 10-4 home loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Athletics activated infielder/outfielder Miguel Andujar (oblique) from the 10-day injured list and optioned outfielder Colby Thomas to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Andujar, 30, is batting .296 with three homers and 20 RBIs in 46 games. He last played for the A’s on June 1. Thomas, 24, was 1-for-11 (.091) in five games for the Athletics.
–Field Level Media
