Ronald Acuna Jr. left Atlanta's game against the Miami Marlins in the bottom of the sixth inning on Saturday after an apparent issue with his left thumb, a removal that came only one inning after he briefly lingered near the dugout while the area was examined. Eli White took his place in right field as the Braves protected a 6-2 lead.
Acuña had already done damage at the plate, singling in two runs in the top of the fifth inning before the thumb problem surfaced. He stayed in the game long enough to jog back to right field after the examination, but the club later said he was taken out because of pain in his left thumb.
The timing mattered because Atlanta was trying to hold on to a comfortable lead while also avoiding a setback for one of its biggest stars. The Braves have been hoping any issue here is only precautionary, but Acuña's career has been interrupted by injuries before, and even a minor thumb problem is a reminder of how quickly a productive night can turn into a concern.
For now, the next thing to watch is whether the thumb pain keeps Acuña out of the lineup beyond Saturday. If it does, Atlanta will be without the outfielder who had just driven in two runs and was still in the middle of a strong game when White entered.
