Manager Walt Weiss made a bold choice on Thursday. He sat Ronald Acuña Jr. despite the team needing a win. The move looked risky at the time. But the results on Friday night were undeniable after the three-hit performance from Acuña. This proves that giving a star a breather can work wonders. The Braves need more of this kind of smart thinking.
A Fresh Start at Truist Park
The off-day clearly did the trick. Acuña entered the game having hit just .119 against four-seam fastballs. He had only three extra-base hits in that category all year. On Friday, he crushed a single with an exit velocity of 110.8 mph. He had also hit a double in the fifth that left the bat at 108.3 mph. That double came right before Michael Harris II hit a two-run homer.
The stats show Acuña finally found his timing against high-velocity pitching. According to AJC, this performance came after Weiss decided to rest him the day before. The data supports the decision. A tired leg or a locked-up mind can ruin a swing. Rest fixes both.
More Than Just Acuña Finding His Rhythm
The team is winning for a reason beyond one player. Sean Murphy is also heating up after getting regular at-bats. Sean Murphy entered the week hitting .136. He has gone 5-for-8 since, with two doubles and a homer. Drake Baldwin is also contributing as a designated hitter to save his legs. Two singles were recorded by him, with multiple hits appearing in three of the last four games.
These lineup moves show the front office understands player health. They are not forcing players to play through wear and tear. The result is a team that has won the last five straight games. This winning streak has given Atlanta a 5 1/2-game lead over the Phillies. The gap matters. Every win builds the cushion needed for a long playoff run.
Power Returning to the Lineup
Michael Harris II is also back in the power groove. He hit his 22nd home run of the season on Friday. Before this week, he was in the middle of a 20-game homerless streak. Now he has a pair of home runs in his past five games. Harris never exceeded 20 homers prior to this season, making this surge vital.
If this week is a sign of things to come, he could make a serious bid for 30. The 25-year-old is showing he can carry the weight of a veteran. The team swept the Dodgers recently and now beats the Rockies. The momentum is real. The league knows the Braves are dangerous again. Acuña’s three-hit night was the spark.
