Ronald Acuna Jr. Development Comes at Worst Possible Time for Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves are one loss away from elimination. Unfortunately, right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr.'s health is creating another problem for manager Walt Weiss.

Atlanta announced minutes before Game 3 that Acuna would serve as the designated hitter after he had been scheduled to start in right field. Lane Thomas replaced him defensively, marking the first time Acuna has served as Atlanta's DH during the postseason. Acuna was limited to designated hitter duties in Game 3 because of a sore right knee.

The 28-year-old former MVP jammed his right knee while sliding into second base on a stolen base attempt at Dodgers Stadium in Game 2. Weiss is not sure if he will be able to return to right field for Game 4.

Zach Klein of WSB-TV Atlanta reported that Weiss will wait to see how Acuna feels before deciding whether he can play the outfield on Wednesday. Weiss also added he does not believe Acuna is pressing at the plate.

Keeping Acuna at DH takes away one of Atlanta's most useful lineup options with the Braves already trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 in the NLDS. If Acuna cannot play the outfield, Weiss loses the ability to use the designated hitter spot for Drake Baldwin. Instead, Baldwin will have to catch with Sean Murphy on the bench. 

Acuna had a strong finish to the regular season. He posted a .997 OPS over his final 26 games. Overall, he finished the year with a .255 average, .345 on-base percentage, .796 OPS, 20 home runs, 55 RBIs and 21 stolen bases across 107 games. He dealt with a recurring left hamstring strain that forced two separate stints on the injured list.

The postseason has been a different story. Acuna is hitting .167 with a .485 OPS through 18 at-bats and went 0-for-4 in Atlanta's 3-1 loss on Tuesday. He grounded out with two runners in scoring position in the fifth inning, one of the Braves' best chances to get back into the game. He also burned a challenge early on.

Los Angeles received seven strong innings from Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 3, while Kiké Hernández and Freddie Freeman both hit home runs in the Dodgers' victory.

The Braves now have to win Game 4 to force a decisive fifth game. Tyler Mahle is scheduled to start for Atlanta, while the Dodgers will have a chance to close out the series at Truist Park.

Getting Acuna back into right field would give Weiss more lineup flexibility, but his health will determine whether that option is even available for a must-win game.