The Atlanta Braves season seems to be spiraling downward and Braves fans are getting nervous, but they keep pointing to hope on the horizon.
That hope is twofold for Atlanta fans as both their ace Spencer Strider is set to return soon as is their MVP candidate Ronald Acuna. Both of these players getting back on the field inspire hope for Braves fans, and fantasy managers alike, but there is trepidation for both.
Spencer Strider has already made his long-awaited return and promptly re-injured himself and landed back on the injured list. Strider can be a league winner if he comes back and looks anything like he did the last time we saw him fully healthy. He is right up there with the best in the league in K's and can give an immediate boost to any fantasy team. The problem is do we trust his health? Strider hasn't even begun a throwing program yet and a hamstring injury can be a nagging one that resurfaces over and over. The good news is Strider didn't hurt his arm, so when he does come back, he should be good to go. That timeline is still sketchy though. Owners have already missed a month of his services and if you have an owner willing to overpay it might be wise to sell now. The Braves aren't panicking yet, but I would be weary of his workload when he eventually does return, which could still be weeks away.
Ronald Acuna is another name where savvy owners took a shot with hopes that he would return early in the season and give them a spark. Acuna though has been slow in his recovery and the time for him to make that bold impact is slipping away as we speak. Acuna had rumors that he could return sometime in April and then it was early May, now reports are that he is still weeks away from beginning a rehab assignment. That is also an optimistic goal according to some and while his talent is immense what will he look like upon returning. Let's say he misses the next month, and we finally see him in a Braves uniform in June. He is worth giving up a top trade for. What is his ramp up is slow, or he needs some time adjusting, now we could be looking into deep into the summer before he contributes.
If you have an antsy owner is your league that will overpay for the upside now might be the time to sell. Talk them up as difference makers, but if you are like Atlanta and falling in the standings it might be worth getting some immediate contributors back now.