ATLANTA -- Ronald Acuña Jr.'s surgically repaired right knee prevented him from producing MVP-caliber numbers this year. But as the regular season enters its most important stretch, it¡¯s apparent he remains one of the game¡¯s most exciting and influential players.

Acu?a created multiple jaw-dropping moments while helping the Braves claim a 4-3 win over the Phillies on Saturday night at Truist Park. The five-tool outfielder hit a monstrous opposite-field homer, drove in all of his team¡¯s runs, displayed his great arm strength and made a diving catch to improve Atlanta¡¯s bid to win a fifth consecutive National League East title.

¡°I don¡¯t think there is any limit to what type of talent he could be,¡± Braves starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi said. ¡°If he has a full healthy season of what he does, he¡¯s going to be in the MVP conversation year in and year out.¡±

Acu?a has homered each of the past two nights for the Braves, who remain one game behind the first-place Mets in the division race. But he¡¯ll unfortunately go through the remainder of the regular season without his good friend Ozzie Albies, who fractured his right pinky finger when he slid into second base on Saturday night.

¡°It¡¯s great that we got the win, but it¡¯s really sad Ozzie hurt himself again,¡± Acu?a said through an interpreter.

Albies returned to Atlanta's lineup on Friday after missing three months with a left foot fracture suffered on June 13. Acu?a produced a .923 OPS in 33 games before Albies injured his foot and then constructed a .681 OPS while the second baseman was on the injured list.

¡°Hopefully, we can keep [Albies] around here, so that [Acu?a] can see him,¡± Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

When Albies returned to the lineup a few hours before Acu?a hit his game-winning homer on Friday, Braves fans credited the success to the two being reunited. But Acu?a¡¯s inconsistencies this year have had more to do with returning from the torn right ACL that caused him to miss last season¡¯s second half and the first few weeks of this season.

Though Acu?a might not be discomfort-free until next year, he¡¯s looked strong while hitting opposite-field homers on consecutive nights. His latest was a two-run shot off Aaron Nola that traveled a projected 427 feet, according to Statcast. The third-inning shot was the the third-longest opposite-field homer hit by a right-handed hitter in Truist Park history (since 2017) and the third-longest opposite-field homer of Acu?a's career.

Acu?a added what proved to be a decisive two-run double in the fourth off Nola. The Braves outfielder has gone 7-for-20 with two doubles and two homers over his past five games. These results indicate Acu?a benefited from taking strain off his right knee by serving only as the team¡¯s designated hitter over a 12-game span from Aug. 31 through Tuesday.

¡°Things are going back to normal and I hope to feeling good,¡± Acu?a said.

Along with tallying the game-winning hit, Acu?a also produced the game¡¯s biggest defensive play. With two outs and the bases loaded in the fifth, Bryce Harper hit a sinking liner that would have scored at least one run had Acu?a not made a great diving catch. The inning-ending gem had a 40% catch probability, per Statcast.

¡°He showed up,¡± Harper said. ¡°I feel like every time we come here, he shows up pretty well. That¡¯s a great team over there.¡±

Acu?a¡¯s ability to impress was also witnessed in the fifth inning when he made a great throw that nearly denied Bryson Stott¡¯s attempt to score on Matt Vierling¡¯s sacrifice fly. That throw and Acu?a¡¯s pedigree also likely influenced Phillies third-base coach Dusty Wathan¡¯s decision to put the stop sign up when Harper went from second to third on Brandon Marsh¡¯s single in the eighth.

Harper ended up scoring, but the sequence was just another example of how Acu?a can impact a game.

¡°It¡¯s good to see Ronnie kind of get this thing going a little bit,¡± Snitker said. ¡°I think he¡¯s feeling good physically. It¡¯s a pretty good time for him. If he wants to get hot right now, that would be great.¡±