NEW YORK — Ronald Acuna Jr. and the Atlanta Braves are ready for another crack at Philadelphia.
They won’t need to wait long: opening day, first pitch.
The reigning NL MVP and his Braves teammates begin their 2024 schedule right back on Friday at Citizens Bank Park, where last season ended with a painful playoff loss in Game 4 of a Division Series.
Just like the year before.
With six straight NL East titles and a 2021 World Series crown, the Braves are the class of the division. No arguing that. But the Phillies have owned them in October, reaching the past two NL Championship Series at Atlanta’s expense only to fall short of earning World Series ring.
“This is a window that we got to win in,” Philadelphia slugger Bryce Harper said at spring training in Florida. “Our ownership deserves that. Our fans deserve that.”
The recent power struggle between the teams has produced a budding rivalry. And while the surprising Marlins gave the NL East a third playoff qualifier last year, the top of the division shapes up as a two-team tussle this season.
At least on paper.
Never a big spender, Miami is minus 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara following Tommy John surgery last October.
The inconsistent New York Mets are pointing more toward 2025 after their high-priced flop last season led to a trade-deadline selloff of veteran players in exchange for prospects.
And the Washington Nationals are still rebuilding around youngsters.
So, here we go again.
Atlanta compiled the best record in baseball last year at 104-58, finishing 14 games ahead of the Phillies for the second consecutive season. After matching a major league record with 307 homers, the Braves added outfielders Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall to a powerful lineup that features Acuña, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies and Marcell Ozuna.
They also made a trade with Boston to acquire starting pitcher Chris Sale, a seven-time All-Star derailed by injuries in recent years.
“I’m excited to join this staff,” Sale said. “We can feed off each other and compete for another division title and hopefully a World Series championship.”
Philadelphia spent big to re-sign Aaron Nola ($172 million) and retain fellow ace Zack Wheeler from 2025-27 ($126 million).
Acuna figures to lead off the season opener March 28 against Wheeler. And maybe meet up again come fall.
“Playing in Citizens Bank in October, there’s nothing like it,” Wheeler said.
HOW THEY PROJECT
1. Atlanta Braves. The 2023 Braves led the majors in hits, homers, runs, RBIs and batting average (.276) — lapping the runner-up Texas Rangers’ mark of .263. They must replace left fielder Eddie Rosario’s 21 homers, so the spotlight is on the 24-year-old Kelenic, who showed promising power potential during last season’s strong start with Seattle. Atlanta also brought back Duvall in mid-March to platoon with Kelenic. Another hitter to watch is Michael Harris II, who will move up to sixth or seventh in the lineup after batting ninth most of last year. Harris, only 22, is flashing power this spring and could join the team’s list of 30-homer hitters that last season included Acuña, Olson, Ozuna, Riley and Albies. Four of them had at least 100 RBIs, while Riley finished with 97.
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The dynamic Acuna posted an unprecedented combination of 41 homers and 73 stolen bases last season. Olson broke a Braves mark with 54 home runs. What can they do for an encore?
Acuña sat out two weeks in spring training because of soreness in his surgically repaired right knee, but returned to the lineup two weeks before opening day.
