Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Braves still face an uphill battle, but with Ronald Acuña Jr., anything seems possible

Published

10 months ago

June 25, 2025

Atlanta Braves still face an uphill battle, but with Ronald Acuña Jr., anything seems possible

NEW YORK — Around Ronald Acuña Jr.’s neck hangs an unavoidable symbol of his own excellence. As if such a reminder were necessary.

Atlanta’s swashbuckling outfielder has never been shy about expressing himself via his jewelry on the diamond. For most of his career, Acuña rocked an enormous, gold, diamond-crusted No. 13 pendant. That trademark piece grew into such a signature that during Acuña’s rip-roaring, record-setting, 41-homer, 73-steal 2023 NL MVP season, one of the Braves’ promotional giveaways was a replica version of their superstar’s ice.

But this season, the 27-year-old has unveiled something new, something different: a gold, octagonal, jewel-encrusted medallion designed to look exactly like the MVP trophy he won two years ago.

Ronald Acuña Jr. has been wearing a gold medallion inspired by the MVP trophy this season. (Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

(Brandon Sloter via Getty Images)

The chain, a gift from Acuña’s wife, is a subtle, shimmering reminder of what this spectacular talent can do. He is one of the few players in baseball capable of bending a game to his will. His electrifying solo homer Monday provided the difference in the Braves’ 3-2 win over the Mets. And even though he went 0-for-3 with two walks Tuesday, Acuña’s presence in the leadoff spot changes the entire complexion of Atlanta’s offense.

“Him in the lineup, it helps everybody,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “What he’s doing, how he’s doing it, taking his walks — that’s awesome.”

Since missing the past four months of 2024 and the first two months of this season while recovering from his second career ACL surgery, Acuña has reemerged like a bat out of hell. He went deep on the very first pitch he saw in May. He is slashing .385/.496/.692 with nine homers in just 29 games. He has swiped four bags on his surgically repaired legs. His arm, which has always been strong, now grades out as the single strongest outfield arm in MLB. But most importantly, he looks explosive, dangerous, formidable — everything his stuck-in-neutral ballclub desperately needs him to be.

That’s because these Atlanta Braves and their seven consecutive playoff appearances are facing quite the climb. After their 7-4 victory Tuesday, the Braves are 37-41, 9.5 games back in the division and six games out of the last NL wild card. Their postseason odds have plummeted from 92.5% on Opening Day to 33.3% as of Wednesday. That is by far the largest drop in MLB. Atlanta’s offense, which underwhelmed before Acuña’s return, has been just as statistically drab since the outfielder reappeared. In other words: the Braves cannot simply rely on their supernova to save them.

To be fair, some of the underperformance to this point can be pinned on poor luck and batted-ball sequencing. The Braves’ run differential (+29) is that of a team five games over .500, not four games under. Monday’s win over New York moved Atlanta to a still substandard 11-19 in one-run games, largely a byproduct of closer Raisel Iglesias’ shaky performance thus far in 2025.

[Get more Braves news: Braves team feed]

Injuries have played a part as well. Being without Acuña for eight weeks was a significant impediment. All-Star hurler Reynaldo López has been on the shelf all season. Flame-throwing ace Spencer Strider has taken some time, in his return from Tommy John surgery, to round into form. Not to be forgotten, the team’s biggest free-agent addition, Jurickson Profar, has been serving a PED suspension since spring training. He’s expected to join the Braves when his suspension expires July 2.

This past weekend brought even more bad news: Reigning Cy Young winner Chris Sale will be out for an undetermined amount of time after suffering a fractured rib cage while making a diving catch during his most recent outing.

Still, Atlanta’s humbling first half has been about more than bad bounces and boo-boos.

This offense, which set multiple MLB records just two years ago with many of the same characters, has been an utter disappointment. Atlanta ranks 22nd in runs scored, 18th in homers and 19th in wRC+.

There are many culprits. Spectacular as his center-field glove might be, Michael Harris II’s OPS starts with a 5. Meanwhile, the Profar fill-ins in left field have combined for a .540 OPS, the second-lowest mark of any team in baseball. New shortstop Nick Allen is a defensive magician, but he’s also homerless with a .574 OPS in 229 plate appearances. Marcell Ozuna, who finished fourth in MVP voting a year ago, is playing through a hip issue that has sapped his power and limited his output. Austin Riley has been solid but far below his All-Star standards.

Yet no performance has been more concerning than that of three-time All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies, who has the ninth-lowest OPS this year among qualified hitters. All the batted ball data further confirms the Curaçaoan’s sharp decline. Albies has always been a free swinger, even at his best, but in the past, he overcame that aggression by impacting the baseball with authority in the air and to the pull side. So far in 2025, those traits are nowhere to be seen.

A startling lack of organizational depth has only amplified the big-league struggles. When Profar got popped for juicing, the Braves were forced to turn to free-agent Band-Aid Alex Verdugo, who has struggled mightily. The upper minors are barren of helpful pieces, on both sides of the ball. Even worse, Atlanta’s farm system is light on impact prospects who could be flipped for reinforcements at the deadline.

To be fair, this organization — as president of baseball operations Alex Anthopolous is wont to remind you — has been down and out before. The Braves battled back to clinch a spot in the postseason in the final game a year ago. And most famously, the 2021 Braves had 7.7% playoff odds on July 28. Then Anthopolous made lemonade out of nothing at the deadline, and the club rallied to sneak into a wild-card spot. That season ended under a downpour of confetti and a parade through the streets of Atlanta.

But the shining glory of 2021 has little impact on the stark realities of 2025, something Snitker seems to understand.

“Every one of these seasons has its own identity,” he told reporters before Tuesday’s game. “You can’t just sit back and think it’s going to happen, because it doesn’t work that way.”

As unique as each season might appear — Snitker, for instance, has a frosty, white goatee now — the Braves have a striking amount of continuity on offense. Albies, Acuña, Ozuna, Riley, Harris, Matt Olson and Sean Murphy have all been around for multiple playoff runs. Anthopolous has received much praise for his willingness and ability to secure many of those players on team-friendly, long-term deals. But that strategy works only as well as the players perform.

Still, this season, nearly half-gone, is also very much alive. There is ample time for the Braves to find their way back to October. Dodging any additional big injuries will be vital; surviving Sale’s absence will be tough as is. Getting more production from the bottom of the order is another must. It’s still too early to say whether this club — winners of five straight against the Mets over the past two weeks — has actually turned a corner, but there’s more than enough runway for optimism.

Having a superstar such as Acuña back in the fold certainly helps.

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Atlanta, GA

Play Fair ATL kicks off ‘The People’s Cup’ in Candler Park

Published

8 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Play Fair ATL kicks off ‘The People’s Cup’ in Candler Park

While the world’s eyes are on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a local coalition is making sure Atlanta’s residents aren’t left on the sidelines. Play Fair ATL launched a three-day push for community accountability today with “The People’s Cup,” a vibrant soccer tournament and cultural celebration in Candler Park.

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Atlanta, GA

New York hosts Atlanta with 1-0 series lead

Published

20 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

New York hosts Atlanta with 1-0 series lead

Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT

LINE: Knicks -5.5; over/under is 216.5

EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Knicks lead series 1-0

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference first round with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 113-102 on Saturday, led by 28 points from Jalen Brunson. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 26.

The Knicks are 35-17 in Eastern Conference games. New York has a 9-4 record in one-possession games.

The Hawks are 27-25 in Eastern Conference play. Atlanta is third in the league scoring 18.1 fast break points per game. McCollum leads the Hawks averaging 5.0.

The Knicks are shooting 47.8% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 47.4% the Hawks allow to opponents. The Hawks are shooting 47.4% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks’ opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 19.9 points over the last 10 games.

Dyson Daniels is scoring 11.9 points per game and averaging 6.8 rebounds for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 21.3 points and 2.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 110.4 points, 40.7 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points per game.

Hawks: 5-5, averaging 117.2 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points.

INJURIES: Knicks: Tyler Kolek: day to day (oblique), Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (elbow).

Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks prediction, pick for Game 1 of 2026 NBA Playoffs first round

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks prediction, pick for Game 1 of 2026 NBA Playoffs first round

Sean Barnard details his preview and prediction for Saturday’s Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks matchup in the NBA Playoffs.

The NBA playoffs are officially underway with a loaded opening round. Taking place in the No. 3 vs. No. 6 matchup in the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks will take on the New York Knicks.

You can check out the full series preview on DraftKings Network here.

Looking at the odds for the series opener, the Knicks enter as 6.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Hawks are +205 underdogs with the game total set at O/U 218.5 points.

This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Eastern Conference series opener.

Hawks vs. Knicks prediction, preview

The Atlanta Hawks went through a midseason transition, moving on from Trae Young after he headlined the production for the franchise for the past eight years. The Hawks have not missed a beat amid the major midseason shakeup, finishing as the sixth seed in the conference with a 46-36 overall record. On the season, Atlanta has gone 44-38 against the spread, and the game total has gone 41-41 to the over/under.

Jock Landale is the only player set to miss the matchup tonight. Jalen Johnson headlines the production, posting averages of 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has had a breakout season in a new location, adding 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. CJ McCollum adds 18.7 points and 4.1 assists across his first 41 games with the organization, while Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, Jonathan Kuminga, and Zaccharie Risacher also play notable roles.

Quin Snyder’s group scores 118.5 points per game, which ranks sixth in the NBA. The Hawks also rank 14th in offensive rating, 13th in field goal percentage, and fifth in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 116.0 points per game against Atlanta, which ranks 18th in the league. They also rank ninth in defensive rating, 18th in opponent field goal percentage, and 12th in opponent three-point percentage.

The New York Knicks entered the season with legitimate title aspirations. They have had some notable ups and downs, but now face this opportunity. New York finished the regular season with a 53-29 record and sit in third place in the East. The Knicks have gone 44-39 against the spread, and the game total has gone 38-45 to the over/under.

The Knicks enter this matchup with a clear injury report and a large sample size of the team playing together. Jalen Brunson headlines the production with 26.0 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.3 rebounds, while Karl-Anthony Towns pitches in 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists of his own. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are responsible for the production at the wing positions, while Josh Hart sets the tone for this team from a hustle standpoint. New York also did an impressive job building out the bench unit this season, with players like Jordan Clarkson, Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, and Tyler Kolek capable of serving as X-factors off the bench.

As a team, the Knicks are scoring 116.5 points per game, which ranks 10th in the NBA. New York also ranks third in offense rating, 11th in field goal percentage, and fourth in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 110.1 points per game against the Knicks, which ranks fifth in the league. They also rank seventh in defensive rating, fifth in opponent field goal percentage, and 20th in opponent three-point percentage.

Hawks vs. Knicks pick, best bet

These are two teams at different stages of their timeline, but neither will be afraid of this playoff spotlight. The Knicks pushed their chips in around this core and are hoping to be rewarded for it. They fell to the Indiana Pacers in the Conference Finals last year and have made the postseason in four consecutive seasons. Atlanta missed out on the playoffs in back-to-back years and turned a new page direction with Jalen Johnson now leading the charge. Without Trae Young, the Hawks now lean on more of a defensive-minded identity and have a roster loaded with athleticism.

During the regular season, these teams faced off three times. They split the first two matchups, which took place on December 27th and January 2nd. New York picked up a narrow 108-105 victory in the most recent game, which took place on April 6th. Both sides were aware that this was a potential postseason matchup, and this game had some major seeding implications. It was an evenly matched game in which neither team was able to extend a lead beyond 10 points, and the rebounding battle was separated by just one board. The biggest discrepancy came with the Knicks shooting 50% compared to the Hawks shooting 40%, and New York outscoring Atlanta 52-34 in the paint.

While there are higher expectations for this Knicks team in the postseason outlook, the Hawks stack up fairly well in this matchup. Jalen Brunson will be at the heart of the offensive attack for New York. But his biggest weakness is when he is guarded by high-level athletes with a size advantage over him. The Hawks have built out a roster loaded with this archetype of player, and there is not a clear matchup for Brunson to hunt in most lineup combinations.

Brunson has enough experience and savvy to will settle in over the course of the series. But expect some growing pains in the early parts of this matchup, and for this to be a huge hurdle for this Knicks team. I am backing the Hawks to cover the 5.5-point spread and would not be shocked if they steal the opening game. This is a series in which neither side should be expected to pull away by major margins throughout. Count on Atlanta to have defense success and have a clear gameplan for limiting the impact of Brunson. Expect this matchup to come down to the wire and take the points in the series opener.