Listed here are three issues we’ll be maintaining a tally of across the baseball world as we head into one other weekend:
1. Acuña to return:
The wait is lastly over for followers in Atlanta: the Braves will probably be again to (largely) full energy immediately once they activate outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. from the injured checklist. The 27-year-old famous person and 2023 NL MVP hasn’t taken the sector in almost a completely calendar yr after tearing his ACL final Could, and the Braves have struggled considerably in his absence. The membership made the playoffs by advantage of a tiebreaker final yr however went on to get swept out of the NL Wild Card collection, and after an 0-7 begin to the 2025 season they’ve solely not too long ago clawed their approach again to a .500 document. A profession .289/.379/.525 hitter, Acuña ought to definitely assist with the offensive woes in Atlanta amid lackluster seasons from Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II in addition to a PED suspension for offseason signee Jurickson Profar.
2. Roster overhaul in West Sacramento?
The A’s are in a troublesome spot. The membership labored onerous to try to revamp their roster over the offseason for his or her first yr away from Oakland, and whereas the early a part of the season noticed them flirt with competition, they’ve now crashed again right down to Earth with 9 consecutive losses. It appears as if that shedding streak is likely to be a trigger for a shakeup to the roster; outfielder Denzel Clarke is reportedly on his approach, and whereas that transfer by itself wouldn’t represent a serious change to the roster ESPN’s Jeff Passan teased the potential of extra strikes to return because the A’s attempt to get issues again on monitor. Will the roster look considerably totally different by the point they face the Astros subsequent week — and even the Phillies this night?
3. NLCS rematch in Queens:
The reigning World Collection champions are coming to Queens, and for the Dodgers and Mets meaning a rematch of final yr’s NLCS. The Dodgers, after all, in the end prevailed in six video games final time round, however each groups made substantial upgrades within the offseason. The collection begins tonight at 7:10pm native time in New York with longtime Dodger Clayton Kershaw on the mound for his second look of the season. The Mets will counter with Griffin Canning, who has a 2.47 ERA by 9 begins. Saturday will see Tony Gonsolin (4.05 ERA) make his fifth begin of the yr towards southpaw David Peterson (2.86 ERA), whereas Sunday’s recreation will function Dodgers teenager Landon Knack (6.14 ERA) towards Mets ace Kodai Senga (1.43 ERA).
