This has been the season from hell for the Atlanta Braves, and it began very early in the year.
Within the blink of an eye, the club watched three All-Stars go down, two being their best players for the entire season — Spencer Strider, the odds-on favorite to win the Cy Young before the season started, and Ronald Acuna Jr., the reigning MVP.
Strider’s absence has been eased by the emergence of Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Schwellenbach as well as the re-emergence of Chris Sale; however, losing Acuna has hurt the Braves tremendously.
Acuna finished last season with 41 home runs, 106 RBIs, and 73 stolen bases, accumulating 9.6 fWAR. The Braves have missed his impact tremendously, and it’s obvious. To make matters worse, there’s a potential scenario playing out where the club could see their season end at the hands of his little brother.
Luisangel was traded to the Mets last year in exchange for Max Scherzer and cash considerations, and he’s already making an impact for the Braves’ rival. It’s only been six games, but Ronald’s little brother owns a 1.316 OPS, thanks to a couple of home runs.
Luisangel is only in New York because of injuries. Francisco Lindor is nursing a lower back injury, and if it continues into next week’s series, the Braves could see an Acuna playing at Truist Park, just not the one they want to.
It’s unlikely that all of these things happen, but there’s a distinct possibility that Luisangel Acuna comes to Atlanta with the Mets for a series that will decide the Wild Card, and there’s a chance that he comes up big for his club, potentially breaking the hearts of Braves fans.
It’s a scary thought. The brothers are spitting images of each other too; it’s like looking in the mirror.
https://twitter.com/SNY_Mets/status/1836423686246846476
Little brother has a long way to go to match big brother’s accolades, but if this short stint is any indication, the Mets found a star in the making. Ronald wants Luisangel to succeed, as any brother would; however, it would be a sick, twisted scenario for Braves fans if Luisangel helped end Atlanta’s season.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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