Cubs vs. Braves Thursday MLB injury report, odds: Ronald Acuna Jr. will make season debut for Atlanta

Surprisingly good news for the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night as they host the Chicago Cubs to close their series: Superstar outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. will be activated from the injured list about a week early and play in the majors for the first time since tearing his ACL last July. The Braves are -185 at Caesars Sportsbook but could get a little bump with this news.

The Braves had been saying that May 6 was the target date, but the 24-year-old was tearing the cover off the ball in six minor-league rehab games, batting .368 with a .941 OPS and three stolen bases in 25 plate appearances. Atlanta may keep him at designated hitter for a spell just to be safe; obviously, that wouldn't have been an option in previous seasons.

Acuna was playing at an MVP level last year in batting .283 with 24 homers, 52 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 82 games when he went down with the torn ACL on July 10 vs. the Marlins in Miami. He landed awkwardly on his right leg after jumping on the warning track in right field to try to catch a drive from Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the fifth inning of that game.

Acuna is certainly back early enough to be a factor in the NL MVP race and is a +750 second favorite behind Washington's Juan Soto (+400).

The Braves won the World Series without him but are off to an uneven start this year at 8-11 after losing Wednesday's game as big favorites vs. the Cubs, 6-3 in 10 innings. Atlanta was in need of outfield/hitting help after losing Eddie Rosario this week for 8-12 weeks with blurred vision and swelling in his right eye that will require a laser procedure. In one way, the Braves perhaps don't win the World Series if Acuna doesn't get hurt because they probably wouldn't have needed to trade for Rosario last summer. He was the MVP of the NLCS win over the Dodgers and terrific all postseason. 

Acuna is 0-for-2 career off Cubs starting pitcher Drew Smyly (1-1, 2.45 ERA), who was a member of the Braves last season. Atlanta counters with former touted prospect Kyle Wright (2-0, 1.06), who had looked like a bust his first four seasons but has been tremendous in the early going.

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