Ronald Acuña Jr. homered again, but the Braves fell to the Mets 6-3 on June 17, 2025. Despite a strong start from Chris Sale, one bad inning proved costly.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
For a fleeting moment, it felt like old times at Truist Park. Ronald Acuña Jr. sent a ball soaring into the night sky for a first-inning homer, and the crowd roared with a familiar energy. But as has been the case too often in this 2025 season, the early high gave way to a frustrating low, culminating in a 6-3 defeat to the division-rival New York Mets that felt all too familiar.
Ronald Acuña Jr. is 2-for-4 with a home run and has now gone deep in back-to-back games, providing a much-needed spark to a struggling lineup.
If there's one massive positive to take from Tuesday's loss, it's the continued resurgence of Ronald Acuña Jr. His two-run shot in the first inning was a no-doubter, a sign that the power and confidence are fully back after his long recovery from knee surgery. Finishing the night 2-for-4, Acuña is looking more like the MVP candidate fans know and love. His energy is infectious, and his presence at the top of the lineup changes the entire dynamic of the offense. While the team result wasn't there, seeing number 13 back in prime form is a victory in itself for the future of this club.
The Braves' early 2-0 lead, courtesy of Acuña, felt solid with ace Chris Sale on the mound. Sale was cruising, racking up 8 strikeouts, but it all unraveled in the fifth inning. A series of hits, capped by a two-run double from Francisco Lindor, led to a four-run frame for the Mets that flipped the game on its head. Sale's final line—5.1 innings, 7 hits, 5 runs (4 earned)—doesn't tell the whole story, but it highlights the team's biggest issue: a lack of consistency from the rotation. A solo homer from Ozzie Albies in the seventh provided a brief spark, but the damage was already done.
The loss drops the Braves to 31-40 on the season, keeping them firmly in third place in the NL East. With each defeat, the postseason picture gets murkier. The team's playoff odds have now dipped to a sobering 8.1%, a stark reminder of how far they've fallen from their championship expectations. With no trades or roster moves announced, the front office appears content to let the current squad work through its struggles. But as the season approaches its midway point, the pressure is mounting to turn flashes of brilliance, like Acuña's homers, into consistent wins.
The Braves will look to even the series against the Mets tomorrow, and all eyes will be on the mound to see if the pitching can match the offensive spark provided by their superstar right fielder. One player's return to form is a fantastic development, but it will take a full team effort to climb out of this hole and salvage the 2025 season. The talent is there; now it's a matter of execution.
