The latest from around the NL East…
- Anthony Rendon left last night’s game after fouling a ball off his left big toe, and he wasn’t in today’s Nationals lineup. X-rays on the toe were negative, and manager Dave Martinez told MLB.com’s Jamal Collier and other reporters that there had yet to be any discussion of a possible DL stint for the star third baseman. Washington is already short Daniel Murphy and Adam Eaton from their first-choice starting lineup, and a Rendon absence would give Bryce Harper even less protection.
- Ronald Acuna is hitting just .138/.219/.172 over his first 32 Triple-A plate appearances this season, and with Preston Tucker playing well for the Braves in left field, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that we may have to wait a while longer to see Acuna make his big league debut. There had been speculation that Acuna could have been called up as early as today, as he would no longer accumulate a full year of MLB service time if he remained on the roster for the entire season, giving the Braves an extra year of control over the star prospect. Service time considerations aside, it doesn’t seem like Atlanta would try to rush Acuna to the majors when he is on such a cold streak. O’Brien did wonder, however, if the team could promote Acuna on Monday to generate some extra interest for the start of a new homestand.
- Tommy Hunter will participate in a game at the Phillies’ extended Spring Training camp today, though manager Gabe Kapler told reporters (including NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury) that the team would see how Hunter felt afterwards before deciding whether he needed one more rehab outing or not. Hunter suffered a hamstring strain in late March and has yet to make his debut in a Phillies uniform. The club signed Hunter to a two-year, $18MM free agent deal in the wake of his very strong 2017 season with the Rays. Even if Hunter requires one more outing, he is likely to be activated sometime this week, provided there aren’t any health setbacks.
Mark April 14 as not the day Acuna makes his debut, but the end of a short run for the 2018 Braves. Time to get ready for another 90 lose season with the terrible manager!
Unsurprisingly enough, after the Braves scored 10 runs and then continued to choke more runs in, i already knew they will blow the game. Just had that feeling and it happened! Oh well, terrible game for another terrible team!
what a dumb comment, but ill bite. why? did acuna make them a 90 win team? also did you see his slash?
The braves are 8-6, have one of the best offenses, and the bullpen had been good until today. Stop overreacting to one game. The braves will be just fine.
Just a terrible comment in both contents and grammar. You, sir, are clueless.
Dang…Facebook Braves fans found this site. Get ready for some world-class complaining.
idiotic statement. i was as angry as anybody about the game today, but you have to put things in perspective. The sky isn’t falling, only your mental capacity for reason
Calm down. Its one game who cares ? Stuff happens and i bet it doesnt happen again. Surely they will come out of this better than ever.
What a crazy, idotic and unintelligent comment! The reason they lost the game was in great part to the horrible weather conditions and although the sky seem like it was literally falling, it’s no reason to scream that the sky is falling after one game. Are the Braves going to win 90 games and make the playoffs? No, they are not. But I expect them to be hovering around the .500 mark most of the year and possibly make a push toward the wild card.
I know it affected both teams, but the weather took its toll on pitchers today some more than others
Do you think the Braves will beat the Red Sox in Sept?
That game should have never been played period. Not it those conditions, and I don’t think the weather is that bad in September
Ronald has already earned a spot. bring him up this homestand. it only makes this team deeper with Tucker off the bench
Atlho, no reason to bring up a struggling kid against the best of the best. Let him regain his feet and confidence
Well I think this is an over reaction but the bullpen has been playing way over their heads. The bullpen needs to be addressed. I’m still flabbergasted by the luke Jackson call up Morris trade
You do realize this is still a rebuild year right???? Everyone calm down. It’s 1 freakin game. Let’s just be patient for another year. The Braves future lineup could be as good as any in baseball
Albies
Swanson
Freeman
Acura
Riley
Pache
Realmuto (when we sign him next year)
And Bryce Harper too
We’re not getting Realmuto without giving up Acuña or Pache plus a bunch more prospects and also we’re not gonna sign Harper for 40+ million per year. So our line up will be more like:
Albies
Swanson
Freeman
Acuña
Tucker
Riley or FA 3B (Donaldson?)
Jackson or FA C (Grandal?)
Enciarte
*Acuna sorry typo
Typo sorry Acuna
I think Acura is probably just bored. He knows he can hit. Call him up. Don’t worry about the Braves, they’ll be just fine, maybe even pretty good this year.