Fri Nov 08 15:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Braves Face Opening Day Without Key Stars Acuña and Strider

**Atlanta, GA** – The Atlanta Braves, fresh off a season marred by injuries, are facing another blow as they prepare for the 2025 campaign. President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos confirmed on Tuesday that both Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider will not be ready in time for Opening Day.

While Anthopoulos emphasized that the injuries are not expected to be long-term, he stated that the team is planning for their absence at the start of the season. “We’re confident that Opening Day is not realistic for them,” he said. “We’ll have a better idea on timelines once we get to spring training, but they will not be part of the Opening Day roster.”

Acuña is still recovering from left knee surgery following a torn ACL sustained in May 2024. He played in just 49 games last season after winning the 2023 NL MVP Award, leading the Majors in hits, runs, stolen bases, and on-base percentage.

Strider, meanwhile, was limited to just two starts before undergoing right elbow surgery in April. The right-hander finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2023, racking up 281 strikeouts – the most in the Majors.

Despite the absence of these two key players, the Braves are optimistic about their chances. “We’re confident that we have the depth to cover for them,” Anthopoulos stated. However, the team will be relying on their other players to step up and fill the void left by their injured stars.

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