
You saw that correctly.
All of the speculation on the reasoning behind Acuña’s absence last night can now be put to rest as he makes his return tonight to (hopefully) help set the Atlanta Braves offense straight for a payback game against the Athletics and even the series up.
Tonight’s starters ⤵️#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/CuiRydfDfF
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 9, 2025
And if you looked at the other familiar name on tonight’s roster, you’d see their centerfielder, Michael Harris II, is back as well after sitting out a couple of games.
Taking the catching position tonight will be Drake Baldwin instead of Murphy, and of course, we have Bryce Elder taking the mound.
What are we hoping to see after getting just one run off a homer from Eli White last night?
A complete turnaround with Acuña’s presence to spike up the bats, of course, and hopefully a mental clearance for Harris with a new strategy entering this game to flow into the second half.
As for the rest, follow suit and stay grounded at the plate to make up for what wasn’t done yesterday.
The Athletics have also dropped their lineup for tonight.
Dropped the lineup pic.twitter.com/DI09duwb78
— Athletics (@Athletics) July 9, 2025
On this day, before rightfielder Lawrence Butler’s bobblehead night (Thursday, July 10th), the team is hoping to pick up where they left off.
Especially for the leadoff hitter after getting both an inside-the-park home run and another homer to center field in the first and third innings last night.
There have been a few slight changes in the lineup placement, as their usual power-hitting shortstop Jacob Wilson is out for today’s game after exiting early yesterday due to a hit-by-pitch in the first (it was later announced that the X-rays were negative and he will now be day-to-day) and has been switched out for third baseman Max Muncy, with Gio Urshela taking over third.
Coming off a 10-1 win at home is nothing to shrug off, and if the A’s carry that same electricity over to tonight’s game…the Braves will find themselves in double trouble.
The plan is set. Now all that’s left to do is follow it.
The question is, however, who will execute it better?