Pursuit of 40/40 may be wearing on Acu?a

ATLANTA -- As Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer talked about a mechanical adjustment Ronald Acuña Jr. recently made in the midst of his month-long skid, he changed gears by saying, “I just wish he’d hit one more homer. I think that will alleviate a lot of what’s going on.”

Acu?a was unsuccessful with his bid to hit his 40th home run during a 5-4 loss to the Phillies on Tuesday night at SunTrust Park. But he still created some excitement when his 37th stolen base moved him into scoring position with nobody out during a ninth-inning rally that fell short for the Braves, who now must wait until at least Thursday before clinching the National League East.

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“He’s a difference maker,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He steals a base and gets in scoring position. We did everything right that inning, and [Phillies closer Héctor Neris] made pitches.”

The Braves set a new franchise home run record when Adeiny Hechavarría homered in the eighth. Adam Duvall pushed the record total to 237 when he opened the ninth with a solo shot off Neris. But after Acu?a walked and stole second before an out was recorded, Neris thwarted the comeback attempt by stranding the tying run at third.

Atlanta’s magic number to clinch the NL East remained at three when the Nationals beat the Cardinals on Tuesday night. Celebrating a second straight division title remains the priority, but the splendor of this memorable season would be enriched if Acu?a can take advantage of the chance to join baseball’s exclusive 40/40 club.

With 10 games remaining, Acu?a is one home run and three stolen bases shy of becoming just the fifth player in Major League history to tally 40 homers and 40 stolen bases in a season. Not long ago, it appeared the 21-year-old outfielder was destined to achieve this historical accomplishment.

But Acu?a's journey into the record books has been slowed as he has produced a .665 OPS over his past 31 games. There were just 10 NL players who entered Tuesday with a lower mark within this stretch.

“I’ve never felt any pressure or anything like that,” Acu?a said through an interpreter. “If I don’t get it, I don’t get it. That’s the way I’m looking at it. I’ve never felt any pressure. So, I don’t think I’m going to feel any different if it does happen.”

There have been a few times recently when it felt like Acu?a was going to break out and resume the production he provided before his NL MVP Award candidacy began to fade in August. The All-Star outfielder homered twice and recorded a three-hit contest during last week’s four-game series in Philadelphia. His double in the fifth inning of Tuesday’s loss had a 114.5 mph exit velocity.

But Acu?a has struggled to consistently produce over the past month. While he has slashed .190/.293/.372 over the past 31 games, he has a 32.9 percent strikeout rate. He struck out in 24.3 percent of the 558 plate appearances that preceded this stretch, with a .921 OPS over the 120 games.

“I think a couple weeks ago, he was overswinging too much when he was getting close [to 40 homers],” Seitzer said. “But I don’t feel like that now. He hit the homer in Philly and just missed some in Washington. In my opinion, he’s close to getting hot. I just want him to get one more. It might rest his mind a little bit.”

When Acu?a hit his 35th home run on Aug. 15, he was on pace for a 46-homer season. At that point, he had also homered once every 10 at-bats since the All-Star break (32 games). But he has gone deep just four times over the 113 at-bats (28.3 AB/HR) that have followed.

Still, while the home run and stolen base totals will garner attention as the bid for 40/40 continues, the Braves’ primary focus is to get Acu?a right before the postseason arrives and he’s given another opportunity to show why he remains one of the game’s most exciting players.

“I always feel good,” Acu?a said. “It’s just the game of baseball. Sometimes, you just can’t hit. It’s just not happening. Like I’ve said before, the pitchers have good nights, too.”