The long-awaited return of the 2023 NL MVP has arrived, and just in time for a rival series matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies. Outfield star Ronald Acuña Jr. missed most of the 2024 season recovering from ACL surgery in his right knee and finally made his return to MLB action Friday night. He’ll be a weapon the Atlanta Braves will rely on as they look to climb back into the NL East picture.

Without missing a beat, Acuña Jr. homered on the first pitch he saw against former Phillie and now San Diego Padre, Nick Pivetta. In his first two games back, he went 3-for-9 with two home runs and three RBIs. Unfortunately for the Phillies, they’ll have to host Acuña Jr. and the Braves when they come to town on Tuesday for a three-game slate.

Braves getting Ronald Acuña Jr. back before series at CBP is worst timing possible for Phillies

The Phillies have been red-hot while the Braves have, simply, not. The Phillies came into Sunday having won nine straight and with the best record in baseball at 34-18. The Braves are treading water at 25-26 on the season and entered Sunday 8.5 games behind the Phillies in the NL East standings.

If anything could spark the Braves to get it going, it’s the founder of the 40/70 club. The Braves are 13th in baseball with a .713 team OPS and will look to start capitalizing on having their star back. The Phillies last took on the Braves April 8-10 in Atlanta and dropped two-of-three, with the series finale coming by way of a walk-off home run loss in extra innings.

The Phillies haven’t played the best competition in the midst of their winning streak, but they’ve done exactly what good teams are supposed to do against weaker competition: win. The Braves, with Acuña Jr. back, will be the Phillies’ first true test in a while, but they’ll undoubtedly embrace the challenge.

The Phillies are also still reeling from the José Alvarado suspension and have yet to come up with a concrete plan for the back end of the bullpen. The Phillies have made it work so far, but have a real test ahead with Atlanta trying desperately to keep their head above water. The Phillies have a chance to exact some revenge on the Braves and drive the wedge further between them and the division lead.