Acuna, Olson have Braves on a roll with majors’ most powerful lineup

Baseball

Published 29.06.2023

Acuna, Olson have Braves on a roll with majors’ most powerful lineup

ATLANTA — A deep lineup led by Ronald Acuna Jr. and Matt Olson has the Atlanta Braves one homer away from matching their most prolific month in franchise historical past.

The Braves enter Friday evening’s sequence opener towards the Miami Marlins with 55 house runs this month, one shy of the franchise document for a month set in June 2019. The energy surge isn’t any fluke. Atlanta has improved its homer whole every month this season and its lineup boasts seven gamers with at the very least 13 homers.

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“I just ask God to keep this team healthy so we can keep executing and have the results we’ve been seeing,” Acuna mentioned via a translator.

The Braves aren’t a set of free swingers. They lead the majors with 147 homers but additionally have decreased their strikeout whole every month, offering the muse for the NL’s greatest document (53-27).

“We’re a better hitting team now, with the power,” supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned. “I think we’re maturing as a team and still keeping the power. Just really good at-bats. Like I say, I love the fact we’re not striking out as much.”

Olson leads the NL with 26 homers and 62 RBIs.

Acuna, who hit two of Atlanta’s 5 homers within the first two innings of Tuesday evening’s 6-2 win over Minnesota, is hitting .331. He is constructing a formidable MVP case with 19 homers, 51 RBIs and 36 steals.

Acuna has set the tempo for the Braves’ improved plate self-discipline by hitting .347 this month with eight homers, 13 steals, 11 walks and solely 13 strikeouts.

“I just think he’s getting more experienced and confidence, the whole thing,” Snitker mentioned. “It just kind of translates to better production, especially when you have a skill set like that. He’s just really kind of slowing his at-bats down a lot, I think. He looks really good, really good. He’s taking his walks. The whole thing has just been really impressive.”

Acuna, now totally recovered from a season-ending proper knee damage on July 10, 2021, has regained the shape he confirmed when he hit 41 homers with 37 steals in 2019. He needed to watch because the Braves gained the 2021 World Series however now’s a number one motive the group may contend for its second title in three years.

“Ronald is so special,” mentioned third baseman Austin Riley. “It’s a treat to come to the yard and watch him play every day, not only offensively but defensively. I think he’s great out there. You catch yourself on the edge of your seat every time he’s at the plate. To see him finally 100% healthy after the knee injury, it’s awesome.”

Braves Hall of Famer Chipper Jones says Acuna, 25, is probably the most proficient participant within the historical past of a franchise that additionally consists of Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, two-time MVP Dale Murphy and 10-time Gold Glove winner Andruw Jones.

“I believe the young man is the most talented player to ever don a Braves uniform,” Jones mentioned just lately of Acuna. “He may not be the best player yet, but he is the most talented.”

Acuna obtained probably the most votes amongst NL gamers for the July 11 All-Star Game in Seattle. He has an opportunity to turn into the primary participant to hit 20 homers, drive in 50 runs and steal 40 bases earlier than the All-Star break.

He additionally has an opportunity for the 40-homer, 40-steals season he narrowly missed in 2019. He’s on tempo to hitch Eric Davis (1987) and Barry Bonds (1990) as the one gamers with at the very least 30 homers and 50 steals in a season.

“My hope is I can stay healthy the rest of the season and hopefully break some records,” Acuna mentioned.

The resurgence of No. 9 hitter Michael Harris II, who has raised his batting common from .163 to .266 since June 7, has been a key to Atlanta’s 20-4 document in June with eight consecutive sequence wins.

Ozzie Albies has 18 homers and is second on the group with 56 RBIs. Marcell Ozuna, hitting .325 in June, has 16 homers. Riley has 14 homers.

“It just goes to show how deep this lineup is,” Riley mentioned. “One through nine can change the game with one swing. When we’re all clicking on all cylinders, it puts a lot of pressure on the pitcher. It’s not `I can get through one through five or six and then take a breather.’ It’s one through nine and then you’re back at the top.”