Ronald Acuna Jr. has missed another game due to his nagging back issue. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. scratched again due to back issue

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Jul 1, 2021 8:03 PM ET

The Atlanta Braves might have something to worry about as they approach the All-Star break.

As noted by The Associated Press (h/t ESPN), star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. was scratched from Thursday's home game against the New York Mets and Cy Young Award candidate Jacob deGrom because of mid-back tightness. Ehire Adrianza took Acuna's spot in right field, hit a leadoff triple and then scored in the bottom of the first inning.

Acuna missed two games last week because of lower-back tightness but did not seem to be bothered during Wednesday's 20-2 rout of the Mets, as he hit a home run in the blowout. According to the MLB website, he was available to come off the bench as of the start of Thursday's contest.

Acuna was batting .280 with 22 homers, 48 RBIs, 63 runs scored and 16 stolen bases following Wednesday's action.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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