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Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Insider Sparks Debate on Braves' Brian Snitker Decision
Insider Sparks Debate on Braves' Brian Snitker Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It's been a disappointing start to the Atlanta Braves' 2025 season, marked by uncertainty surrounding the team's direction and what to expect moving forward. Advertisement Even with the return of former NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. recently, the Braves haven't figured out how to win games and are currently on a six-game losing streak. Speculation has centered on manager Brian Snitker and how he's led the Atlanta Braves in 2025. At 27-36, the Braves are in fourth place in the NL East and are 13 games behind the division-leading New York Mets. The odds of Atlanta turning their season around and making their way into a Wild Card spot are slowly slipping away, and that's what seems to be happening to Brian Snitker's job as well. Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker (43)Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images MLB insider Ken Rosenthal believes that Braves' manager won't be fired in 2025 There have been a lot of negative comments filling the Braves that have centered around Brian Snitker and how he's led his team in 2025. Advertisement Insider Ken Rosenthal spoke on Foul Territory and said that manager Snitker won't be going anywhere this season unless he chooses to step down on his own. "I know fans don't want to hear this. They're screaming their heads off for his head, for [Alex] Anthopoulos' head, but I just don't expect they're going to make a change unless for some reason he decides to step down, and I don't expect Brian Snitker to quit on a season," Rosenthal said. Snitker has been at the helm for Atlanta after taking over in 2016 as the team's interim manager, and he's shown high success for the Braves since then, winning six division championships as well as a World Series title in 2021. Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. and manager Brian Snitker in 2021Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Although Ken Rosenthal's comments are speculative, it's clear that Braves fans are frustrated with the team's current struggles. Advertisement Brian Snitker could be done as the team's manager after this season, but it seems to be unlikely that he gets booted out in 2025. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Reuters
01-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Braves, with Ronald Acuna Jr., finding offense while Red Sox struggle
June 1 - The offense may be starting to awaken for the Atlanta Braves, who host the Boston Red Sox on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game set. The Red Sox have gone 1-4 on their current road trip and have lost six of their last seven games. The Braves have won two of their last three but have dropped seven of their last 10. Atlanta leads the season series 3-2. In a positive sign for Atlanta, the Braves scored nine runs against the Phillies on Thursday and five against the Red Sox on Saturday. "We've got some of the best hitters in the world on our team here," Atlanta pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach said. "We've got a lot of people who can really hit and some opposing pitchers don't want to face the Braves. And when we get hot, you know, scary things can happen." The catalyst has been the return of Ronald Acuna Jr. He has three home runs in eight games since his return from left ACL surgery and is batting .367 with two doubles, six RBIs and six runs scored. The scheduled starting pitchers for Sunday are Boston left-hander Garrett Crochet (4-4, 2.04 ERA) and Atlanta righty Bryce Elder (2-2, 4.50). Crochet will be making his 13th start and has allowed two or fewer runs in each of his last six starts, compiling a 2.13 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 38 combined innings. In his most recent appearance on Monday at Milwaukee, Crochet took the loss despite allowing only two runs over 6 2/3 innings and matching his season high with 11 strikeouts. A problem for Boston has been lack of clutch hitting. Since May 19, the Red Sox are 10-for-85 with runners in scoring position and have left 84 runners on base. Boston twice produced a pair of singles in an inning on Saturday but failed to score and struck out 14 times. "I think we have a lot of faith in our offense," Crochet said. "At any given moment, we're going to break out and the rest of the season we're going to forget about these first two months. The most important part is that we're getting in the situations to have success and eventually the ball is going to go our way." Crochet faced the Braves on May 16 in Boston and lost the game despite allowing just two runs, seven hits and no walks while striking out eight in a 4-2 defeat. In two career appearances against Atlanta, Crochet is 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA. Elder is being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett and will take the place of AJ Smith-Shawver (strained right elbow; on 60-day injured list) in the rotation. Spencer Strider had been scheduled for the finale but will now open the series against Arizona on Tuesday. Elder has made eight starts but was sent down after his most recent start against Washington on May 14 to make room for Strider. He worked six innings and allowed one run on five hits, one walk and three strikeouts. "You don't expect him to be happy about it, but he was a professional about it," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. "He's been through it. He gets it. He's going to pitch a long time in the major leagues." Elder has never faced the Red Sox. --Field Level Media
Reuters
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
MLB roundup: Twins get second straight walk-off win over Royals
May 25 - Brooks Lee gave Minnesota its second walk-off win in as many days as his ninth-inning RBI single lifted the Twins to a 5-4 comeback victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday in Minneapolis. Lee's second three-hit game of the season ended with a two-out, slow-roller up the middle off Steven Cruz and allowed Carlos Correa to score from third. Harrison Bader hit his fifth home run of the season and Kody Clemens got his fourth to lead Minnesota's comeback. The Twins had lost their previous 39 games when trailing by four or more runs. Vinnie Pasquantino had his third three-hit game of the season for the Royals, going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Salvador Perez went 2-for-4 and drove in a run while Maikel Garcia extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single and two RBIs. Braves 7, Padres 1 Ronald Acuna Jr. smashed his second 400-foot-plus homer in as many days to lead host Atlanta to the win over San Diego. Grant Holmes (3-3) allowed one run and six hits over seven innings. Danny Baldwin posted three hits while Alex Verdugo contributed two hits and two runs and Ozzie Albies (2-for-4) stretched his hitting streak to 10 games. Scheduled starter Michael King was scratched due to shoulder soreness, so reliever Sean Reynolds (0-1) made his first MLB start and allowed six hits and three runs in 2 2/3 innings. Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill notched two hits apiece and Machado drove in the lone run to make it 1-1 in the third. Pirates 2, Brewers 1 Oneil Cruz recorded two hits, including a go-ahead RBI triple, to propel Pittsburgh to a one-run victory over visiting Milwaukee. One day after hitting two home runs to help the Pirates defeat the Brewers, Cruz roped a line drive off reliever Tyler Alexander (2-5) in the seventh that reached the right-center wall to drive in Isiah Kiner-Falefa with the eventual winning run. Mitch Keller allowed one run over six innings. The Brewers mounted a rally in the ninth, but Pirates reliever David Bednar induced a game-ending 6-3 double play from Brice Turang to pick up his fifth save of the season. Milwaukee's Quinn Priester, who made his first career start against the team that drafted him in the first round in 2019, gave up one run on six hits over six innings. Nationals 3, Giants 0 Jake Irvin pitched eight scoreless innings and James Wood hit a two-run home run to lead Washington to a victory over visiting San Francisco. Irvin (4-1) allowed three hits while striking out seven and walking two on 96 pitches. Keibert Ruiz added two hits for Washington, which has won six of seven. Kyle Harrison (0-1), making his first start this season in place of the injured Justin Verlander, gave up two runs on five hits over four innings. Tyler Fitzgerald had two of the three hits for the Giants. Reds 6, Cubs 4 Elly De La Cruz went 2-for-3 with a home run, a stolen base and four RBIs to lead Cincinnati to a victory over visiting Chicago. TJ Friedl also had two hits and Santiago Espinal scored twice for Cincinnati, which snapped a three-game skid. Andrew Abbott (4-0) allowed one run on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. Despite allowing a homer to Carson Kelly to begin the ninth, Emilio Pagan bounced back to notch his 13th save. Justin Turner added a solo homer and Matt Shaw had three hits for Chicago, which had its three-game winning streak ended. Cubs starter Colin Rea (3-1) surrendered six runs on seven hits over five innings. White Sox 10, Rangers 5 Lenyn Sosa delivered a bases-clearing double and Joshua Palacios cracked a two-run homer as Chicago rallied for the victory over visiting Texas. Andrew Benintendi slashed a go-ahead two-run double as part of a six-run sixth, Luis Robert Jr. recorded his first three-hit game of the season and Mike Tauchman hit his first homer for the White Sox, who can pull off their first series sweep of the year on Sunday. Starter Bryse Wilson went four innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits. Jack Leiter threw five innings of six-hit, two-run ball for the Rangers before giving way to four relievers who combined to allow eight runs across three innings. Adolis Garcia poked a solo homer in the eighth. Yankees 13, Rockies 1 Austin Wells had two hits in a 10-run fifth inning, Aaron Judge homered for the second straight game and New York routed Colorado in Denver. Paul Goldschmidt, DJ LeMahieu, Cody Bellinger and Anthony Volpe had three hits and Jasson Dominguez contributed two hits for New York to back another strong outing by Max Fried. Fried (7-0) allowed a run on six hits and struck out seven in 7 1/3 innings. Michael Toglia had an RBI triple for Colorado, which missed a chance for two straight wins. Kyle Freeland (0-7) allowed eight runs -- four earned -- on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. Astros 2, Mariners 1 Framber Valdez recorded his fourth consecutive quality start to claim a riveting pitchers' duel and lead Houston Astros to a victory over visiting Seattle. Valdez (4-4) allowed one run on four hits and four walks over six innings. He has surrendered six total runs over his last four starts and 28 innings. Houston won all four contests. Seattle right-hander Bryan Woo (5-2) allowed a season-high nine hits over six innings. He surrendered two unearned runs. Guardians 7, Tigers 5 (10 innings) Kyle Manzardo and Angel Martinez each hit RBI doubles in the top of the 10th inning to lift visiting Cleveland to a win over Detroit. Bo Naylor had a sacrifice fly and pinch-hitter Nolan Jones added an RBI single in the four-run 10th for Cleveland. Ramirez and Manzardo each had two hits for the Guardians, and starter Luis Ortiz allowed three earned runs on four hits in his five innings of work. Detroit responded in its half of the 10th, cutting the Cleveland lead to 7-5 on a two-run double to left-center field by Gleyber Torres off Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase. But Clase stifled the Detroit rally by inducing a foulout from Colt Keith and a groundout by Riley Greene to end the game. Red Sox 6, Orioles 5 (Game 1, 10 innings) Rafael Devers hit a game-ending single with one out in the 10th inning and host Boston outlasted the Baltimore Orioles for a victory in the first game of a doubleheader. Devers gave the Red Sox their fifth win in seven games. After Gregory Soto (0-2) retired Jarren Duran, Devers chopped a fastball to center field to easily score automatic runner Cedanne Rafaela. The Red Sox used six relievers, including Greg Weissert (2-1), who pitched a 1-2-3 top of the 10th. Baltimore starter Zach Eflin allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits in five-plus innings. The Orioles scored three in the fifth off Hunter Dobbins and Sean Newcomb. Heston Kjerstad scored on a groundout by Jackson Holiday before Gunnar Henderson blasted a double. Adley Rutschman then scored on a wild pitch. Orioles 2, Red Sox 1 (Game 2) Ryan O'Hearn and Dylan Carlson recorded RBI hits in the final two innings to lift visiting Baltimore to a win over Boston in the back end of a split doubleheader. A duel between Baltimore starter Trevor Rogers and Boston counterpart Lucas Giolito remained scoreless after both bullpens took over, with the visitors -- who recorded eight of the 13 total hits in the game -- taking advantage of multiple walks in both of their run-scoring innings. Abraham Toro had the lone Red Sox RBI on a ninth-inning home run, while Kristian Campbell was 2-for-4. Brennan Bernardino (2-2) took the loss. Cardinals 6, Diamondbacks 5 Jordan Walker went 2-for-4 with a run and three RBIs as St. Louis edged visiting Arizona with a wild back-and-forth finish. Walker snapped a 5-5 tie in the eighth with a two-out single off reliever Justin Martinez (1-2) that drove in Alec Burleson with what proved to be the winning run. Ryan Helsley (2-0) stranded two runners in scoring position in the ninth to close out the victory. Josh Naylor and Randal Grichuk drove in two runs each for the Diamondbacks, who lost their fourth straight game. Arizona starter Merrill Kelly allowed four runs on six hits in six-plus innings. Rays 3, Blue Jays 1 Junior Caminero belted a three-run homer and Shane Baz tossed 5 2/3 solid innings to fuel host Tampa Bay to a victory over Toronto. Caminero's homer in the first inning was his ninth of the season, pulling him into a tie with Brandon Lowe for the team lead. The early power surge proved to be enough for Baz (4-3), who allowed one run on four hits. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered to lead off the sixth for the Blue Jays. Jose Berrios (1-2) saw his winless stretch extended to eight starts despite permitting just three runs on three hits in six innings. Mets 5, Dodgers 2 Juan Soto hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the fourth inning as host New York beat Los Angeles in the middle game of a three-game series. David Peterson (3-2) earned the victory while tossing a career-high-tying 7 2/3 innings for the Mets, who won for just the third time in nine games. The Dodgers had their three-game winning streak halted. The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in the second on an RBI single by Enrique Hernandez and a run-scoring groundout by Dalton Rushing. But the Mets mounted two-out rallies in the second and fourth innings against Los Angeles starter Tony Gonsolin (2-1). Brett Baty went 3-for-3 and drove in a pair. Marlins 6, Angels 2 Connor Norby hit a three-run homer and visiting Miami snapped Los Angeles' eight-game winning streak with a victory. The Angels' Taylor Ward doubled in the ninth to secure his franchise-record 10th consecutive game with an extra-base hit. Ward has nine home runs and 27 RBIs in his last 18 games. The Marlins had lost three consecutive games. Ronny Henriquez (2-1) got the win with two-thirds of an inning of scoreless relief. Los Angeles starter Jose Soriano (3-5) gave up three runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. Phillies 9, Athletics 6 (11 innings) Kyle Schwarber hit his 18th homer of the season and later lined a two-run tiebreaking double in the 11th inning to lead Philadelphia to a victory over the Athletics at West Sacramento, Calif. Nick Castellanos drove in two runs, one on a sacrifice fly to score Schwarber in the 11th as the Phillies extended their season-best winning streak to nine games. Max Lazar worked out of an 11th-inning jam by striking out Davidson to record his first career save for the Phillies, who have won 13 of their past 14 road games. The Athletics saw their season-worst losing streak reach 11 games. They were two outs away from a victory before Max Kepler delivered a ninth-inning homer to right off closer Mason Miller to tie the score at 6. Brent Rooker hit a homer in the eighth inning to give the Athletics a 6-5 lead. Jacob Wilson and Miguel Andujar each had three hits and an RBI for the A's. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ronald Acuña Jr. homers for 2nd straight game in return to lineup as Braves beat Padres 7-1
San Diego Padres' Manny Machado rounds second base in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) San Diego Padres pitcher Sean Reynolds delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Braves' Nick Allen (2) drives in a run with an infield single in the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes (66) delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. hits a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. hits a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) San Diego Padres' Manny Machado rounds second base in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) San Diego Padres pitcher Sean Reynolds delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Braves' Nick Allen (2) drives in a run with an infield single in the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes (66) delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. hits a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. homered for the second straight game in his return from a nearly year-long absence due to a knee injury, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 7-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Saturday. Acuña homered on the first pitch he saw in his season debut Friday. On Saturday, he hit a 411-foot, two-run shot to left field in the sixth inning, going 1 for 5. The 27-year-old is 3 for 9 in his two games back after missing the previous 161 games due to a torn ACL in his left knee. Advertisement Atlanta's win halted a seven-game skid against the Padres that included a two-game sweep in last season's National League playoffs. Matt Olson hit his fifth homer in seven games for the Braves, who took advantage of an unexpected bullpen game from the Padres after starter Michael King was scratched less than an hour game time due to shoulder stiffness. Grant Holmes (3-3) gave up one run in seven innings, his fifth quality start in 10 chances this season. The 29-year-old right-hander gave up six hits, a walk and struck out six. Padres third baseman Manny Machado, who won Friday's game with a homer in the ninth inning, went 2 for 2 with an RBI and two walks. Advertisement Padres starter Sean Reynolds (0-1) worked 2 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits, including Olson's home run. Reynolds threw a season-high 57 pitches as the Padres lost for the seventh time in eight games. Key moment With the Braves leading 3-1 in the sixth inning, Machado and Jackson Merrill reached to open the inning. Holmes struck out Xander Bogaerts and retired Gavin Sheets and Jake Croneworth to get out of the jam. Key stat Braves rookie Drake Baldwin is hitting .488 in May (20 for 41) with three home runs and nine RBIs after going 3 for 4 with a walk. Up next Braves RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (3-3, 3.52) will face Padres RHP Dylan Cease (1-3, 4.50) in the finale of the three-game series Sunday. ___ AP MLB:
Fox News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr crushes 467-foot home run on first pitch in return from ACL injury
Atlanta Braves superstar outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. returned to the lineup for the first time after he tore his ACL last season in the team's 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday night at Truist Park. Acuna, 27, looked like he hadn't skipped a beat. On the first pitch he saw from San Diego Padres starter Nick Pivetta, the 2023 NL MVP demolished it 467 feet for a towering solo home run. Acuna said he "had a feeling" he might do something special in his return. "To me, that's just the culmination of all the work I put in," he said. Unfortunately for the Braves, Acuna's solo home run was the lone run they scored, as Pivetta shut the Braves' offense down afterward. Pivetta ended up pitching six innings while he scattered four hits and struck out seven Braves' hitters. Padres third baseman Manny Machado broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth inning with a solo home run off Raisel Iglesias to give the Padres a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. The loss drops the Braves to 24-26, who are still looking to rebound after an 0-7 start. The team hopes the return of Acuna can help spur them back into postseason contention. "He's one of those players that you better not go get a beer or whatever, because you might miss something really cool, you know?" Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "I mean, he's that type of force, I think, in the game. I think he's going to energize everybody. Gonna energize the fans. Gonna energize his teammates." "It's huge," third baseman Austin Riley said of Acuna's return. "The talent is there. The energy he brings, having Ronald up there at the top of the lineup. ... he can change a game at any point." The Braves and the Padres will play the second game of their three-game series on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
