Injury impact - 10 pickups to replace Ronald Acuna Jr.'s production - ESPN

Fantasy baseball managers frustrated with the curiously diminished play of Atlanta Braves OF Ronald Acuna Jr., the National League's defending MVP and obvious No. 1 pick in this season's drafts, have a bit of closure today, but not what they were hoping for. Acuna, who hit .337 with 41 home runs, 106 RBI, 73 stolen bases and 149 runs scored during the historic 2023 season, tore the ACL in his left knee on Sunday afternoon. His 2024 season ends after 49 games with a .250 batting average, 4 home runs and 16 steals.

Few expected Acuna to match his mammoth 2023 stats, but he entered this week a disappointing 38th on the ESPN Player Rater (roto leagues) and outside the top 50 hitters in ESPN points formats. It sure is not what everyone signed up for, but at least he was playing baseball. Now he is not. Replacing Acuna's current, underwhelming numbers in a points league, where the stolen bases hardly stand out as valuable as in a roto format, is not as difficult, but still, this stinks for baseball and in fantasy. Last season's Acuna is not coming back until next year.

For now, the Braves likely will break up their left field platoon of OFs Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall and let each player perform regularly, until they make a trade. The lefty hitting Kelenic is not doing much, posting a .713 OPS with only three home runs versus right-handed pitching. If he earns extra playing time, it is not really a good thing. The right-handed hitting Duvall, 35, has a long history of hitting for power and he clubbed 18 of his 21 home runs in 2023 for the Red Sox against right-handed pitching, though staying healthy is an issue. Add Duvall over Kelenic.

Acuna averaged 2.3 ESPN fantasy points per game this season and, over the past 30 days,