# Ronald Acuña Jr. not back, Jorge Mateo gets rare start in Braves’ opener at Orioles

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-25 02:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
The Atlanta Braves have officially activated star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. from the injured list following a lengthy absence.

## Intelligence Brief
This move allows the player to return to a team that currently leads the NL East. To facilitate Acuña's return to the active roster, the Braves have opted to send Brewer Hicklen to Triple-A. Acuña was activated just before the team's scheduled opener against the Mets. This activation follows a period of uncertainty regarding his exact return date during the previous week's series against the Orioles. Multiple outlets have tracked the timeline of this return. USA Today notes that Acuña missed a total of 38 games, while Yahoo Sports reports he was absent for almost seven weeks due to a left hamstring strain.


According to MLB.com and ESPN, there were various reports and sources suggesting a Monday return. Earlier coverage from CBS Sports and Battery Power highlighted the anticipation of his return during the Baltimore Orioles series, where Jorge Mateo received a rare start in the opening game because Acuña was not yet available. Context for this return includes a series of minor setbacks and rehab adjustments. Coverage from NBC Sports and MLB.com indicated that Acuña's return was delayed at one point, during which time he remained on a rehab assignment. Yahoo Sports mentioned a minor injury scare during a minor league game, though subsequent reporting confirmed he was cleared for a potential Orioles game. This period of rehabilitation also coincided with other roster movements, such as Murphy beginning a rehab assignment as noted by MLB.com.


Attention now shifts to how the Braves will integrate Acuña back into the lineup. Yahoo Sports has raised questions regarding the appropriate amount of playing time Acuña should receive during his first week back from the hamstring injury. The team is focused on maintaining its first-place standing in the NL East as they transition from the temporary solutions, such as Jorge Mateo's rare starts, back to their primary roster. Coverage will likely monitor his immediate performance and physical durability in the game against the Mets.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Power | Atlanta Braves News: Ronald Acuna Jr. Returns, Bad Loss to Mets, More | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiswFBVV95cUxNNE52R3o4dTJyNFpFRDVjVWhfRHdBdDBqQUE0dGUtRnJYbHdYZXlPZV9PVS10T0Z6T1dtSkU0UVdLWV9zUXEzdEZfanJIcmJSOWNicFlJU3FxZXVFbTNYeXVoR1JkalFjb0kyMUpuMTBNZTd5b1VlYXFEZ3M4UEFwU2ZPQ3EwYVNSb3V2cENTZ0dqaGF2UFM1VXE0UGJGdWhEaVR5Vmk1T1h6Sm9MWmZ0Q2tvTQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Atlanta Braves News: Ronald Acuna Jr. Returns, Bad Loss to Mets, More | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxNM3ZNcDFxUF9ZUVpVUGpWdTJpcE52X3BTcTB4UVFKWmZsR1J5b1JmNDJJbUZ0T2xzZS1wWXdjaEgwZUFUQ2tZLU9xTl9DWGZyNTM4Rk1KWGtIMXVzeGxEU3BYd3Mta0JzcF9Ca2Z0M3ZseHNxWHhMd3FxcDZBY01idmN6VG5BTFZ1?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Braves activate Ronald Acuña Jr. from IL after 38-game absence due to left hamstring strain | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi2gFBVV95cUxORnhIdU5HS1BKZjVLNUJhX1BtX0FBZzZwenNxU2NDMWJmU29nYlBPdXYxRkdETkQwRUhfS2t3N292bEk1TXpYZHJHMFZnakp0MjNJeHd4UFZUQ1RPVVBSN2t4MkNBbkc4OUpQTWMtaFJXREpkRWRNMVpDaWc0WXVnNWxhRjhld2liY1JWTW4zVFN6N2ViNGFBYVlNM1lybjIwc3lCZkZTUWoxcGxpaUhCYlFoWk9nQjc4SEZaNW9Ia01Za015M29ubENSSXlfMEV5ZF9KN0tpOXNrQQ?oc=5) |
| AJC.com | Atlanta Braves get Ronald Acuña Jr. back, but get blown out by Mets | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimAFBVV95cUxOenJrbGQxZENvUVpzSFRid1VuUmJXQ3lmMlBseDlwZjhXYkpwSmlmWkUyN1I2LVpTcnVZQloxRFVZOG9wLVpqb1k5V1NDb3hfQXUtem1RRUlqelJhNnlpZ0JQNjNjMThGUWFGSDlPUGRiTl81WVUzdzYzLUt1bkYya0xxcW53Z2NZc1Q0NWc1bC0tQmEwUFBJMQ?oc=5) |
| CBS Sports | Ronald Acuña Jr. activated from IL as Braves continue to regain NL East lead | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFBVV95cUxNVlNTODZlNnpvWndES09EbndPbDJpRVB1STVlaWxHN1NrWkpfNDJZSUFJTzA3SXlyUEZIdFRHUVNPelVEN3lDc0NnSENBTjcwTndkclFlWXFLWTYzekV5VDNtRTlDdjBMXzl5cmFqV3YxWi1sUllmeUgyS0t5QlFQYVhZd1pjdHp4MEFJ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Braves Make Ronald Acuna Jr. Announcement for Game one Against Mets | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxQdDdsaFVzR25TYmJ6QVowbGQyblJJZWdPN3kwX2QzVzE2SkdmU2hWTUxRUEdwV3VneGZmV2hpSWtuWnZsaGxtWUtQQmxZM2dwVTh5S2JvamRRUmVwbTV5X015YklZcEtKN0dyX1RHa3RMeWlrNVQyNTJPZEdqeHEzQWU0bHBqWGxuTHNBOQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Ronald Acuña Jr. back in the leadoff spot as Braves visit Mets | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigAFBVV95cUxNdURxRWZBQUN3aGw2emZibkpVVEZvOGRMOHVweU1OYjhEN1VYR05tQUlleER5bEdNQkZYMzZCNTZ1d0JwOXV2dGdoVWdObzZkVXhpeEc5MjFzVWpYanhoTXh6bjd5OVZ4QU5EdG1SMlpNWENSSy1DT2ZSb1J5clpPdg?oc=5) |
| AJC.com | Ronald Acuña Jr. returns to Braves ahead of Monday’s matchup at Mets | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxNMmkyb3JMUFlFd2NvcDNBeXVWdFkwbWkta3k4SU52QXNFcWVKMXJkLWRSMEc5aERQS3NVR0RGdUlqU3ZvdENLNTV2bldTenNiU3hrYkkyb2d2Qzd3aUxyQkZsa0JVQVZhWjlGTTEtR3hnMWl2SFMwQ1pLaFdjeDA3azFHNm45a2c1Q0tlc2R5MUNtV1ZBbGY3THVxVnNEUDdiN2pmdQ?oc=5) |
| The New York Times | Braves reinstate Ronald Acuña Jr. after 6-week absence | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgFBVV95cUxNNTVyWXIzQU9Uc0FhQXlHYUNmSGFMZE9SN09iQkxsWVJaVlJkQVpQOEVSbzFpSUsyZDRTNWdWRG9BcHdKSHUxdm9EWEVISUNEdElMN19sLWEzTG1PSTBFeGJaa1pTQTYwVmhmc19WWFRmZjBNb3FBUDRmQzkyY3RWR0pXakU5VEFIWGtnVnJ3VmVCLVBzdXVyOGFn?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Acuña returns to NL East-leading Braves after missing almost 7 weeks with left hamstring strain | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiggFBVV95cUxNVFQ1YU5zZE15UlBfYzJWZEpkTVRCSGxZelpnMGQzZ2NYLWdoUWVRTENxVFEtb05qbmRLYTNRVXVjR2VDNWlXYXNGaEthZ1lJYmNRbkY0aHJJTVczMmc0VnZsaDJmWDgwRzVlNVlxNk1kdHpRT2VKWV83OWJBR0FKY0V3?oc=5) |
| Battery Power | Braves officially activate Ronald Acuña Jr. from IL and option Brewer Hicklen to Triple-A | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1gFBVV95cUxQalpNcktmYUlGM2RKLWFkejFJeG9MbnBjMTBNdm1MNDZDQk5iUzFfNFFpQms4NW00MzZucUhMVTNNUFZ6VUxWcVV1RmV6R1hYelJidC11QTRPYWpNUUtqbnlaY25rSktWUlhWeEhzVF9IaUhOV3Yzd19GRG9LMHVqTmpkUzI3SnAzZFExWjhvV3lYTVpRZGQxUmt6SkhWZjZkZ1ZwSjJhdDZVRHdraEx4RHRfNEVYUDNIWGd0VFdneEMtOWczbVAwcXhZRVg5ZVNHM1JIcnF3?oc=5) |
| ESPN | Sources: Braves to activate Ronald Acuña Jr. on Monday | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxPLUo2V2RpOEw1TkhzbWt0dUFHeUljS2tlZFFVU19UMmgtdHc5bWpLMWdhUnVQdXVNRGlNdkZmdHJMWHYtekU3eDZHakNwM2ZNY1VNLW95ZU83REtHSDRzRExGUFFIYzd1ZWFRd0Vhb2s5d0ZLcXF5VVN1OFBMZXpNLVJacWVmZVNDQ3hzd2hxUWQ4X3lEUlE?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Braves officially activate Ronald Acuña Jr. from IL and option Brewer Hicklen to Triple-A | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0wFBVV95cUxPRndlb3J4VE1ITTJUWUt0S284Y0M3YmhuWUNCZmRPY3VOSGZIMXB3RHBaZHNxWXJNWTM4VUZBTXhlM1gzMUVwWFBaUDdjTkFhX1hjSVR2WWdDVncwdVp1czBuazkyaXVrdEVqbkYtb3hSLXM2RXJpVnZRUmZCTGt5OHhXMU5YeFJJZXRzNTVRelA3WC1pdTFmczIyRGRINV81MDhMSFhYSGFJaVFfcTlkVlFQX1pSekd0MjhCTm1kQnJwaml1Vm9FZ1VGazRVZWNEQ0dz?oc=5) |
| USA Today | First-place Braves activate Ronald Acuña Jr. after 38-game absence | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxQV2p2UnRNOWYwTXVJT29IQkozT2pIY3ZJV21obzd1Z2VsdVhfRTJYcWJsY3M4cElRVXdjUkdMMmRTTmEycmpyalk0X0lRSFd5Mjc5Z0c1QVRDd3g3VDVSZk1GQ0lEejR1Rk9Tb01iNVVYX3NLWTVXWk9HYV9XNVNZZnl5Z0xJQmRrTWI1WE5objNtREdRdndMSmhSaGVjMW55eUJRaHJYZGhVa0d6WG9xcF8zRzZLenhM?oc=5) |
| MLB.com | Acuña activated before Braves' opener with Mets tonight | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxQQlJ6QmxXX2pWRU5mVTFaaFp1YzNQYldwTVZpVV9QLTdiZHVUYWNNNmZfRGZTdEN6M3c0Y0hHOGtzcVJtT1B1YzJMVGFlZ3dHQnY5WGZMd2c1cmwtS0dCVzZZN2c5eDJQcnBXM1V5UnNPSUptX3lPbFBXbEtnYUZQNHAzRk4?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-25/ronald-acuna-jr-not-back-jorge-mateo-gets-rare-start-in-braves-opener-at-orioles*