Ronald Acuña Jr. flails as Braves fall to Dodgers, and difficult questions are coming in Atlanta: 'I did nothing to help the team'

Ronald Acuña Jr., the star of Atlanta’s postseason collapse, sat alone in the locker room, his disappointment evident. The Braves, who had advanced past the first round of the postseason for the first time since 2021, were eliminated by the Dodgers on Wednesday, losing a winnable game in Atlanta after splitting the first two in Los Angeles. Acuña, who had struggled at the plate in the series, was visibly upset, telling reporters, "I did nothing to help the team this series."

Acuña walked to the plate four times in Game 4, all times with a Brave on base, and failed to bring them home. In his final at-bat, he grounded out to end the Braves’ final scoring opportunity. The boos from the crowd were audible as Acuña accepted them, stating, "I didn’t do anything [to help the team]."

The Braves’ offensive woes were not just Acuña’s problem; the rest of the team struggled as well. Matt Olson went 2-for-16, Drake Baldwin 1-for-14, Austin Riley 0-for-14, and Ozzie Albies 3-for-15. Braves manager Walt Weiss acknowledged the Dodgers’ strong pitching but blamed the team’s offensive struggles on them as well. Despite their strong regular-season record and impressive postseason run, the team now faces questions about whether they can capitalize on their potential and advance past the divisional round.