When the Atlanta Braves open a three-game home series against the Tampa Bay Bays on Friday night, they will do it without superstar outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who is out for the season with a torn right ACL he suffered Saturday against the Miami Marlins.
Atlanta sits one game under .500 -- a half-game behind the Philadelphia Phillies and four behind the first-place New York Mets in the National League East.
Braves manager Brian Snitker likely will lean on All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman to pick up the slack in the 23-year-old Acuna's absence.
Freeman (.