Atlanta Braves fans have been eagerly anticipating this moment for nearly a year: Ronald Acuña Jr. is finally back in the starting lineup for Friday’s opener against the San Diego Padres at Truist Park. The excitement is palpable, but the lineup crafted by Brian Snitker has left some fans scratching their heads.
Acuña is right where he belongs—leading off. Behind him are stars like Austin Riley, Matt Olson, and Marcell Ozuna, though their order might need some tweaking. The real head-scratcher? The No. 5 spot.
For reasons only Snitker knows, Alex Verdugo is slotted in fifth and playing left field, while Eli White, who’s been one of the Braves’ best hitters this season, sits on the bench. This decision dampens some of the buzz around Acuña’s return.
Bringing Acuña back is huge—not just for Braves fans but for all baseball lovers eager to see one of the game’s brightest stars back in action. Fans are hoping he can ignite an offense that’s been sputtering since his injury.
But it’s hard to get too excited when Verdugo, who’s struggled mightily all of May with a .194/.260/.239 slash line and no home runs, is playing a key role—and inexplicably hitting fifth in the lineup. Meanwhile, White, boasting a solid .274/.320/.436 slash line with three homers and 13 RBIs, offers more value both offensively and defensively.
Snitker is known for sticking with his players longer than expected, but White clearly deserves everyday playing time even with Acuña back. Choosing Verdugo over him—especially giving Verdugo such a crucial spot in the lineup—is difficult to justify. Honestly, Verdugo probably shouldn’t even be in the lineup, let alone batting fifth.
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