AROUND THE HORN
Braves: OF Ronald Acuña Jr. was reinstated from the injury list Thursday, more than a week ahead of the team’s target date for his return from knee surgery. Acuña hit leadoff and played right ield in Thursday night’s game against the Cubs. That game ended too late for this edition. He may initially split time between right field and DH. The defending World Series champion Braves have struggled at the start of the season and will be looking for Acuña to provide a boost to their lineup after showing in his rehabilitation stint with Triple-A Gwinnett that he has recovered from the surgery that ended his 2021 season.
Royals: SS Adalberto Mondesi’s season is in jeopardy after an MRI revealed a torn ACL in his left knee. Mondesi, 26, who played in only 35 games in 2021 because of left hamstring and left oblique injuries, had started 14 of 15 games. Mondesi, who was batting .140 (7-for-50) with five stolen bases in five attempts, suffered the injury on an attempted pickoff play Tuesday night against the White Sox. Nicky Lopez, who started 141 games at shortstop in 2021, likely will move from second base.
Cardinals: MLB suspended 3B Nolan Arenado and LHP Génesis Cabrera for their actions during a benches-clearing fracas Wednesday against the Mets. Arenado was banned two games and Cabrera one, and both have been fined undisclosed amounts. Arenado appealed and was in the lineup against the Diamondbacks. Cabrera served his ban during the game after pitching two innings Wednesday.
Brewers: Andrew McCutchen hit a go-ahead two-run single in the top of the ninth to rally the Brewers past the host Pirates 3-2 to complete a threegame sweep. McCutchen, a five-time All-Star with the Pirates, began the game with a leadoff HR — his first at PNC Park as a visitor — before delivering a single to right field off closer Chris Stratton (0-1) in the final frame. Hoby Milner (2-0) worked a perfect eighth to pick up the win. Devin Williams retired the Pirates in order in the ninth for his first save. The Brewers have won eight straight over the Pirates dating to last season.
Marlins: Trevor Rogers provided his longest outing of the season by allowing one run in six innings, and the Marlins stretched their winning streak to five games with a 3-2 sweep-completing road victory over the reeling Nationals. Rogers (1-3) came in with a 6.94 ERA but lowered that to 5.09 after giving up just two hits against a Nats lineup that has produced merely 16 runs during an eightgame losing skid. Cole Sulser worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to get his first save of 2022 in his first chance. Patrick Corbin (0-4) lost again for the Nats, despite his best outing of the season, with three runs — two earned — and four hits in six-plus innings.
Extra innings: Zack Wheeler tossed one-hit ball over six shutout innings and Alec Bohm homered to help the Phillies complete a four-game sweep of the visiting Rockies with a 7-1 victory. Wheeler won his first game of the season . ... Taylor Ward drove in two runs, Brandon Marsh had three hits and an RBI, and the Angels completed a fourgame sweep of the visiting Guardians with a 4-1 victory.