Acuña Jr. blasts first homer of 2026 to keep Braves in NL East race

Atlanta's star player delivers clutch hit after slow start to the season.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:53am

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An abstract, expressionist painting depicting the powerful swing and explosive energy of baseball player Ronald Acuña Jr. as he hits a home run, the ball itself dissolving into a neon splatter of color.Acuña Jr.'s clutch home run ignites the Braves' comeback and keeps them atop the NL East.Philadelphia Today

Ronald Acuña Jr., the 2023 NL MVP, hit his first home run of the 2026 season on Friday to help the Atlanta Braves defeat the Cleveland Guardians 11-5. Acuña Jr. has struggled at the plate so far this year, batting just .222 with a .650 OPS, but his 411-foot game-tying blast in the late innings was a much-needed boost for the Braves as they look to hold off the surging Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins in the NL East.

Why it matters

Acuña Jr. is one of the best players in baseball, and the Braves will need him to regain his MVP form if they want to fend off their division rivals and return to the playoffs. The Braves have been competitive to start the season, but they can't afford for their star player to continue slumping.

The details

Acuña Jr.'s home run came in the 8th inning with the Braves trailing the Guardians. His 411-foot shot tied the game at 5-5, and the Braves went on to score 6 more runs to win 11-5. The home run had an exit velocity of 104.9 MPH, though it was the shortest of the day - Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo hit one 454 feet in the 4th inning.

  • Acuña Jr. hit his first home run of the 2026 season on Friday, April 11.
  • The Braves currently have a 9-5 record and are in first place in the NL East.

The players

Ronald Acuña Jr.

The 2023 NL MVP, Acuña Jr. is one of the best players in baseball. He has struggled to start the 2026 season, batting just .222 with a .650 OPS, but his clutch home run on Friday could be a sign that he is starting to regain his MVP form.

Kyle Manzardo

The Cleveland Guardians first baseman hit a 454-foot home run in the 4th inning of Friday's game, the longest home run of the day.

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What’s next

The Braves will look for Acuña Jr. to build on his first home run of the season as they try to maintain their lead in the NL East. Their next game is on Saturday against the Guardians.

The takeaway

Acuña Jr.'s clutch home run was a much-needed boost for the Braves, who are trying to fend off the Phillies and Marlins in the NL East. If the star outfielder can regain his MVP form, the Braves will be a tough team to beat in the National League.