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Braves' dangerous lineup benefits from pressure Ronald Acuña Jr. adds while on base

Steak Shapiro and Rusty Mansell discuss the impact Ronald Acuna Jr. has on opposing pitchers once on base

Atlanta Braves All-Star Ronald Acuna Jr.
Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves
Todd Kirkland / Stringer

The Braves are now 10 games into the 2024 season and sit at 7-3 atop the National League East. Atlanta is off to a good start at the plate with five batters, including Jarred Kelenic at .462 and Orlando Arcia at .385, leading the way. And while there may be some shock that last year’s NL Most Valuable Player, Ronald Acuña Jr., is not even in the top three in batting, the All-Star outfielder is still impacting opposing pitchers once he is on base.

“If you just watch him, if you watch the replay of how he steals the base, how explosive he is,” Rusty Mansell said on Wednesday as he and Steak Shapiro discussed the Atlanta lineup and how much attention Acuña tends to draw from pitchers once he reaches base. “Do you know what it is to be hitting in the nine hole when Acuña is coming up or hitting in the two hole when Acuña is on base,” Shapiro asked as he noted that Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies are two Braves’ players that are able to take advantage of the pressure Acuña adds on pitchers.


“The pressure on a pitcher is just incredible,” Mansell added. And while Acuña, who is currently batting .256 with 10 hits through 39 plate appearances along with four RBI, is coming off of an MVP season that ended with 73 stolen bases, it is understandable why pitchers find themselves having to choose their battles once the owner of the first 40/70 club is on base as he already has four stolen bases this season.

Steak Shapiro and Rusty Mansell discuss the impact Ronald Acuna Jr. has on opposing pitchers once on base