Ronald Acuña Jr.’s Knee Looms Large as Braves Face NLDS Elimination Game

Atlanta’s season is down to one game, and Ronald Acuña Jr.’s right knee could shape every lineup decision the Braves make Wednesday night. The Braves fell 3-1 to the Dodgers in Tuesday’s Game 3 of the National League Division Series, leaving them needing a Game 4 win to force the series back to Los Angeles for a winner-take-all Game 5.

Acuña’s knee clouds Atlanta’s elimination-game lineup

Acuña was removed from right field shortly before Tuesday’s game and used as the designated hitter because of soreness in his right knee. The issue traces back to Game 2, when he stole second base, slid in hard and jammed the knee.

He went 0-for-3 in Game 3, drawing a walk and striking out once. Whether he can return to the outfield for Wednesday’s elimination game remains unsettled.

• Braves manager Walt Weiss said the club would wait to see how Acuña feels when he reports to the ballpark Wednesday.
• If Acuña cannot handle right field, Atlanta can keep his bat in the lineup at DH.
• That arrangement would force the Braves into further defensive and catching adjustments against Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow.

Weiss did not offer a firm prognosis after the loss, saying the club was uncertain about the next day and would evaluate Acuña when he arrived.

The catcher decision could follow Acuña’s availability

Atlanta used Drake Baldwin at designated hitter Tuesday, but an Acuña move to DH would likely push Baldwin behind the plate. That would leave Sean Murphy on the bench.

The choice carries added weight because Murphy has caught each of Tyler Mahle’s starts since Atlanta acquired Mahle at the Trade Deadline. Mahle is slated to start Game 4, so the Braves will have to balance their preferred battery with the need to cover the outfield.

• With Baldwin catching and Acuña at DH, Mauricio Dubón could be needed in the outfield.
• That scenario would likely put Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop.
• Kim has gone 1-for-30 since Sept. 12.
• Atlanta also could leave Dubón at short and send Lane Thomas to the outfield.
• Thomas owns a career .664 OPS against right-handed pitching.

A hot finish, then a quiet October so far

Acuña carried a scorching bat into the postseason, posting a .997 OPS across his final 26 regular-season games. The Division Series has been a tougher ride: he is 3-for-15 without an extra-base hit or an RBI.

Still, a compromised Acuña remains central to Atlanta’s plans. The Braves need his offense, but they also need enough healthy defenders to support Mahle against Glasnow and keep their season alive.

Game 4 at a glance