The return of Ronald Acuna Jr. to the Atlanta Braves’ lineup came at a perfect time for baseball fans in northeastern Ohio.
The former National League MVP came off the 10-day injured list mere hours before the start of a three-game series in Cleveland, allowing him to play against fellow star Jose Ramirez of the Guardians.
Both are expected be in action again on Saturday night when Braves left-hander Joey Wentz (3-3, 5.03 ERA) takes on Guardians right-hander Slade Cecconi (5-5, 4.11).
“You love to see the great players in the game on the same field, whether it’s in the All-Star Game or playing against each other,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s something you always look forward to.”
Acuna went 0-for-3 with a walk in four plate appearances as the Braves claimed a 2-0 win in the series opener. It was his first action since July 29, when he suffered a right calf strain in a game at the Kansas City Royals.
Ramirez was 0-for-4 on Saturday, being retired three times by starter Hurston Waldrep before being struck out by closer Raisel Iglesias in the ninth inning. The Braves are the only team Ramirez has yet to homer against.
Ramirez would have shared the spotlight with Acuna at last month’s All-Star Game in Atlanta, but the face of the Cleveland franchise opted out of the festivities to nurse several minor injuries.
“Jose Ramirez is one of the best players in the business,” said Snitker, who managed against Ramirez in the 2022 All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium. “He just plays so hard, I’ve got a lot of respect for him. Jose is one of the guys who you’d say, ‘If everyone on your team plays like him, you’d be in really good shape.'”
Atlanta, which won eight of 15 games without Acuna, is playing its best ball of the season while waiting for the activations of third baseman Austin Riley (abdomen strain) and starting pitcher Chris Sale (rib fracture).
The Braves are 6-1 since Aug. 9, and Riley and Sale are closing in on returning to the active roster. Sale will make his second rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Gwinnett.
“Austin ran the bases before the game and took batting practice on the field for the first time,” Snitker said. “So we’ll see how he feels Saturday and take the next step.”
Wentz has pitched against Cleveland more than any other team, posting a 1-2 record and 5.84 ERA in 10 appearances. He came out of the bullpen against the Guardians twice in April while with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Cecconi came within two outs of his first complete game on July 18 against the Athletics, but has not won since then, going 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA. His lone outing against Atlanta was a four-inning, three-runs allowed, no-decision last season.
The Guardians are 23-10 since ending a 10-game losing streak on July 7, moving within striking range of the New York Yankees for the final American League wild-card position.
Since the start of July, Cleveland’s rotation ranks third in the AL in both strikeouts and innings pitched. Joey Cantillo struck out five and gave up one run over five innings but was a hard-luck loser in the opener against Atlanta.
“There are always ups and downs, so I’ve got to do a better job of filling up the zone and being more consistent in that regard,” Cantillo said. “It’s frustrating, but we’re here and working on it, so it is what it is.”
–Field Level Media
