The Atlanta Braves officially activated star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. from the 10-day injured list Monday, clearing the path for his return from a strained left hamstring. Acuña hasn't played since May 2 when he pulled up lame running the bases against Colorado. The five-time All-Star brings his .252 average, two homers, and team-high seven steals back to Atlanta's lineup.

Manager Walt Weiss remained cautious about deploying Acuña in Miami's artificial surface, citing concerns about soft-tissue injuries on turf. "The turf is a little bit tougher on soft tissue," Weiss explained. Mike Yastrzemski started in right field for Monday's series opener instead. Acuña's return comes after a challenging recovery period that included missing significant time in 2024 following ACL surgery.

The Braves enter this series as baseball's best team, having won 13 of their last 15 series after Sunday's 8-1 victory over Boston. However, they also placed infielder Kyle Farmer on the injured list retroactive to May 16 with a strained right forearm. Acuña's presence immediately upgrades Atlanta's speed and offensive threat as they chase another playoff berth.