Braves Hold Off on Acuña’s Return; Mateo Starts Against Orioles

Fans eager to see Ronald Acuña Jr. back in action for the Braves will have to wait at least one more day. Despite earlier reports suggesting he could return for Friday night’s series opener against the Baltimore Orioles, the team has not confirmed his status, and he is absent from the starting lineup.

Instead, Atlanta is fielding a lineup that closely resembles the one used in Thursday’s finale against San Diego. The top six hitters remain unchanged, though Drake Baldwin will serve as the designated hitter after catching the previous game. Eli White steps in for Mike Yastrzemski in right field, batting seventh, while Joey Bart will catch and hit eighth. Notably, Jorge Mateo makes his first appearance since last Friday, taking over shortstop duties and batting ninth. This game offers Mateo a unique opportunity to face his former team, the Orioles, where he played from 2021 to 2025.

On the mound for the Braves is Trevor Rogers, making his 11th career start against Atlanta. Veterans Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley are both familiar with Rogers, with Albies boasting a .320 batting average against him, going 8-for-25 with a double and three RBIs. Riley, on the other hand, has a .217 average, with five hits in 23 at-bats, including three doubles and a home run.

Matt Olson, however, has struggled against Rogers, with a dismal 1-for-16 record, which includes eight strikeouts. In contrast, Mauricio Dubón and Michael Harris II have found some success against the lefty, with Dubón hitting 3-for-6 and Harris at 2-for-5. Collectively, the current Braves lineup has a .241 batting average against Rogers, with eight doubles, one home run, ten RBIs, and 24 strikeouts.

The Orioles are also making adjustments, giving left fielder Taylor Ward a day off in the field. Dylan Beavers will take his place, both in the field and as the leadoff hitter, while Ward will serve as the designated hitter, batting fourth. Tyler O’Neill, who usually occupies the cleanup spot, is not in the lineup today. Chadwick Tromp, who has just joined Baltimore after starting the season with the Braves, will catch and bat ninth, having recorded two singles, a run, and an RBI in his first three games with the team.

Braves starter Grant Holmes has limited experience against the Orioles, having made only one prior start against them. The only Baltimore player with significant experience against Holmes is former Met Pete Alonso, who is 3-for-5 with an RBI against him. Jackson Holliday had a standout performance against Holmes last July, going 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, contributing to the Orioles’ impressive combined .467 batting average against Holmes, which includes a 1.222 OPS.

As the Braves look to extend their winning streak, first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET at Camden Yards.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.