RADIO
Michael Harris II Out with Back Tightness
Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (back) is out of Saturday's lineup due to back tightness. The 25-year-old was removed late in Atlanta's win over Pittsburgh on Friday night, and the initial belief was that he would not miss any time. However, a day later, manager Walt Weiss acknowledged that Harris was still experiencing tightness in his back. While he will receive treatment, the expectation is that he will miss no more than this one game. Neither Harris nor the team believes the injury is serious, and there is a chance he will be available off the bench when the two teams meet again. This season, the Braves' center fielder has posted a .303/.338/.516 slash line with 13 home runs, three stolen bases, and an .854 OPS.
Source: Grant McAuley
Source: Grant McAuley
Michael Harris II Dealing With Back Tightness, Not Believed to be Serious
Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (back) was removed from Friday night's game early against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth inning with back tightness, according to Barrett Sallee of 680 The Fan. "We don't think it's anything serious," manager Walt Weiss said. "There's a pretty good chance he'll be back in there tomorrow." It sounds as though Harris escaped a major injury, so he could be right back in action for Game 2 of the series in Atlanta on Saturday. Before leaving the game late, the 25-year-old went 2-for-5 at the plate with a run scored and two strikeouts to raise his season average to .303 and his OPS to .854. He was replaced in center field at Truist Park by Eli White. The former third-round pick in 2019 hasn't run much yet (three steals) after reaching exactly 20 steals in three of his first four MLB seasons, but otherwise, Harris is having a career year. Coming into Friday's action, Harris had a robust .301/.336/.519 slash line, career-high .855 OPS, 13 long balls, 37 RBI, and 29 runs scored across 60 games and 229 plate appearances. He's been a must-start for fantasy managers in traditional leagues every day.
Source: 680 The Fan - Barrett Sallee
Source: 680 The Fan - Barrett Sallee
Ronald Acuna Jr. Returns on Friday After Injuring his Thumb
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (thumb) departed Thursday's series finale against the Miami Marlins with a left-thumb bone bruise, but he's back in right field and is batting leadoff for Atlanta in Friday's series opener against the division-rival Washington Nationals and left-handed opener Richard Lovelady, according to MLB.com. Thankfully, X-rays came back negative on Acuna, who recently returned from a stint on the injured list due to a hamstring strain. It's great news for the Braves and fantasy managers, and he should be returned to all starting lineups in traditional fantasy formats. Acuna's surface stats don't look great so far in 2026, but in five games since returning from the IL, he's riding a five-game hitting streak and has gone 7-for-17 (.412) with a double, two RBI, seven runs scored, and a stolen base across 20 plate appearances. Overall, the former MVP and five-time All-Star is slashing only .261/.370/.384 with two homers, 11 RBI, seven steals, and 22 runs scored. Acuna is a five-category contributor and could just be starting to heat up.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Michael Harris II has Third Straight Multi-Hit Game, Clubs Two Homers
Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II had his third straight multi-hit game on Thursday in the team's 9-3 win over the division-rival Miami Marlins, going 2-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and a strikeout to raise his season average to .298 and his OPS to .848. It was Harris' eighth career multi-home run game, and his second already this season. In 18 games and 68 plate appearances so far in May, he has gone 18-for-67 (.269) with five home runs, a double, nine RBI, 11 runs scored, and a stolen base. Fantasy managers have to love what they've seen from the 25-year-old former third-rounder in 2019 after he had his first 20-20 campaign with a career-high 86 RBI in 160 games played in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues. Harris had a career-worst .678 OPS last year despite hit 20-20 season, but so far in 2026, he has an .848 OPS with 11 total home runs, 29 RBI, 22 runs scored, and three steals in 48 games played across 176 plate appearances. Keep riding him during his current hot streak as the team goes into a series this weekend against the division-rival Washington Nationals.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ronald Acuna Jr. Exits Early, X-Rays Come Back Negative
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (thumb) was forced to make an early exit from Thursday's game against the Miami Marlins. Acuna exited the game in the sixth inning due to a bone bruise on his left thumb. He suffered the injury while making a catch earlier in the contest. Before leaving the game, Acuna went 2-for-3 at the plate with two singles and two RBI. He already underwent X-rays, which came back negative. Acuna has been pushing to return to the lineup for Friday's game against the Washington Nationals. Fantasy managers should consider Acuna day-to-day. There's a chance that the superstar outfielder is back in the lineup on Friday, so fantasy managers should check back ahead of that contest.
Source: Grant McAuley
Source: Grant McAuley
Ronald Acuna Jr. Back in the Lineup on Tuesday
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) is in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Miami Marlins. He'll bat leadoff as the designated hitter against Marlins southpaw Braxton Garrett. Acuna is making his return from a two-week absence that included a stint on the 10-day injured list. Prior to injuring his hamstring on May 3, he was slashing .252/.362/.378 with two homers, seven RBI, a 13.2% walk rate, a 20.4% strikeout rate, and 111 wRC+. Acuna hasn't been as effective with the bat in his hands this season compared to years past, but he's still an above-average hitter with a nice blend of power and speed. With that said, injuries have continued to plague him, as he hasn't played 100+ games in a season since 2023, when he played 159 games while slugging 41 homers and stealing 73 bases. Acuna ranks #8 among outfielders in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Braves Reinstate Ronald Acuna Jr. From Injured List on Monday
The Atlanta Braves announced on Monday that they reinstated outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list and placed infielder Kyle Farmer (forearm) on the 10-day IL (retroactive to May 16) with a strained right forearm in a corresponding move. After speculation that the Braves might wait until Friday's series opener against the Washington Nationals to reinstate Acuna, he was activated on Monday, although he was not included in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener in Miami. The 28-year-old is available off the bench and should make his return to the starting lineup on Tuesday, perhaps as the designated hitter. Fantasy managers have to be excited that the former MVP and five-category contributor is back with the big-league club since straining his hamstring earlier this month. The five-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger winner hasn't played up to his standards through 127 at-bats in 2026, but he's a must-start in traditional fantasy lineups whenever he's in the lineup. He returns from the IL sporting a .252/.362/.378 slash line with a .740 OPS, only two homers, nine RBI, seven steals, and 17 runs scored.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
Ronald Acuna Jr. is "Day-to-Day," Could Return on Friday
Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said on Monday that outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) is "day-to-day" at this point, according to Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Weiss added that it's not out of the question that Acuna comes off the 10-day injured list to play early this week against the Miami Marlins, but the LoanDepot Park turf is a factor in the team possibly waiting to bring Acuna back on Friday at Truist Park in Atlanta against the Washington Nationals. As of right now, the five-time All-Star isn't scheduled to go on a minor-league rehab assignment, but he also might not return until the start of the weekend. The 28-year-old superstar has been out since suffering a Grade 1 left-hamstring strain and landing on the IL on May 3. In his absence, Mike Yastrzemski has been playing right field regularly against right-handed pitching. The Braves could choose to ease Acuna back in at DH when he's activated, but either way, he should be returned to all starting fantasy lineups immediately. The former MVP was hitting a mediocre .252 (32-for-127) with two homers, nine RBI, seven steals, and 17 runs scored across 34 games at the time of his injury.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Chad Bishop
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Chad Bishop
Ronald Acuna Jr. to Return Next Friday?
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) is taking batting practice on the field with the team on Friday, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Manager Walt Weiss said that Acuna likely won't be activated from the 10-day injured list until he can play the outfield. Bowman guesses that won't be until next Friday, May 22. Acuna has been recovering nicely from a Grade 1 left-hamstring strain that landed him on the IL earlier this month, but the Braves have been careful not to rush him back. It sounds as though fantasy managers will have to wait another week before the 28-year-old former MVP and five-time All-Star is back in the everyday lineup in Atlanta. Despite a lackluster start by his standards in 2026, Acuna should be rostered everywhere. He's currently hitting .252/.362/.378 with a .740 OPS, two home runs, nine RBI, seven stolen bases, and 17 runs scored. Acuna has elite five-category skills while at the same time being a high-risk commodity because of injuries.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Ronald Acuna Jr. Won't Return on Current Homestand
Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said on Wednesday that outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) is doing well with his agility and running, but he will not be activated from the 10-day injured list on the team's current homestand, which runs through this Sunday, May 17. The Braves are being cautious with the superstar outfielder after he landed on the IL on May 3 with a Grade 1 left-hamstring strain. It's unclear if the 28-year-old former MVP will go on a minor-league rehab assignment, but either way, it seems likely that he'll be back at some point next week. He did some sprinting up to 90 feet before Wednesday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Acuna wasn't playing at the elite level fantasy managers have become accustomed to before his hamstring injury, but he remains a must-stash, five-category contributor when he's fully healthy. Jose Azocar is making the start in right field for the Braves on Wednesday with a left-hander on the mound, and Mike Yastrzemski will continue to play in right in Atlanta against righties with Acuna out.
Source: 929 The Game - Grant McAuley
Source: 929 The Game - Grant McAuley
Ronald Acuna Jr. Sprints Up to 90 Feet on Wednesday
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) tested his strained left hamstring on Wednesday by sprinting up to 90 feet, and everything looked good, according to Grant McAuley of 929 The Game. Acuna has shown good progress, but he's not ready to be reinstated from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday on the first day that he's eligible to return. It doesn't seem that the 28-year-old is far off from returning to the major-league lineup, although the Braves could be cautious and send the former MVP and five-time All-Star on a short minor-league assignment this weekend. Acuna was put on the IL on May 3 with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. There's absolutely no way that he should be available on the waiver wire in any fantasy leagues, even though he had posted underwhelming numbers by his standards before his injury with a .252/.362/.378 slash line, .740 OPS, two homers, nine RBI, seven stolen bases, and 17 runs scored in his first 34 games played in 2026. The left-handed-hitting Mike Yastrzemski has been on the strong side of a platoon in Atlanta's outfield since Acuna has been sidelined.
Source: 929 The Game - Grant McAuley
Source: 929 The Game - Grant McAuley
Ronald Acuna Jr. Unlikely to Return on Wednesday
Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) is progressing well from his hamstring strain, but he still has boxes to check before being activated from the 10-day injured list, according to Grant McAuley of 929 The Game. It doesn't sound like Acuna will come off the IL when he's first eligible on Wednesday. The Braves put Acuna on the IL on May 3 with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. He has been doing agility and baseball activities, though, and it doesn't sound like he'll need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before he returns to the big-league lineup. The 28-year-old former MVP and five-time All-Star should remain rostered in all fantasy leagues until he's ready to be activated. Although he has hit a mediocre .252/.362/.378 with a .740 OPS in 127 at-bats in 2026, Acuna is a five-category contributor and a potential league-winner when he's right. The left-handed-hitting Mike Yasrzemski should continue to play regularly against right-handed pitchers until Acuna returns to Atlanta.
Source: 929 The Game - Grant McAuley
Source: 929 The Game - Grant McAuley
