Acuna Matata

Acuna Matata. What a wonderful phrase. Acuna Matata. Ain't no passing craze. It means no worries … OK, you get it.

Venezuelan reporter Daniel Alvarez Montes of EVTV Miami heard from a source late Tuesday night that the Braves are calling up top outfield prospect Ronald Acuna from Triple-A Gwinnett. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman soon confirmed that report, noting that the 20-year-old will join the team ahead of Wednesday night’s game against the Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

Acuna got off to a sluggish start this year at Gwinnett, but some of that can be blamed on the nine days of inactivity between the end of Braves camp and the start of the Triple-A season. He had caught fire over the last week-plus, going 11-for-33 (.333) with a homer, a double, four walks, and three stolen bases in eight games between April 17 and April 24.

Acuna slashed .325/.374/.522 with 21 home runs, 82 RBI, 44 stolen bases, and 88 runs scored in 139 games last season between three different levels of the Braves’ minor league system.

If the picture hasn’t already been painted well enough, this dude is going to be a fantasy monster.

Acuna will take over as the Braves’ everyday left fielder, with Ender Inciarte sticking in center field and Nick Markakis continuing to man right field. Preston Tucker, who showed impressive power early on but is in an 8-for-48 slump, figures to become more of a utility outfielder and bench bat.

The hype is real. The wait is over. Get Acuna active and reap the rewards.

Donaldson Down On Farm Soon

Good news here for the Blue Jays, as manager John Gibbons told reporters on Tuesday that injured third baseman Josh Donaldson could get into some minor league rehab games by the end of this week. A more detailed plan is expected to be announced Wednesday.

Donaldson landed on the disabled list April 13, retroactive to April 11, with inflammation in his right shoulder that first popped up in spring training and had been affecting his ability to make strong and accurate throws across the diamond over the first two weeks of the regular season.

Tests showed no structural damage in the shoulder and the Blue Jays seem confident that Donaldson will be able to return to the hot corner when the time comes. Yangervis Solarte has filled in nicely at third base since Donaldson went down and figures to remain a fixture in the starting lineup, which could mean a demotion for second baseman Devon Travis, who’s batting just .130/.203/.148 with one extra-base hit (a double) in 59 plate appearances this season. Solarte, for reference, has an .842 OPS with five home runs and three doubles.

But the Blue Jays also have to figure out what they want to do with Lourdes Gurriel, the highly-ranked Cuban infield prospect who was promoted from Double-A New Hampshire on Friday. He’s made two starts at second base and one start at shortstop so far at the major league level, going 3-for-11 with three RBI at the plate. Aledmys Diaz has served as the Jays’ primary shortstop so far in 2018 and got off to a nice start offensively, but has fallen into a bad slump over the last week. There’s still some time for Toronto to get this all sorted out.

Flaherty Up For Cardinals On Saturday

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny announced after Tuesday night’s loss to the Mets that Jack Flaherty will be called up to start this Saturday against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

The 22-year-old right-hander will be filling in for Adam Wainwright, who landed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday with inflammation in his right elbow. Wainwright believes he will be ready to return when first eligible, but elbow injuries are always tricky and this is not his first one.

Flaherty struck out nine batters over five innings of one-run ball back on April 3, but he got optioned to Memphis the next day with Adam Wainwright returning from a late-spring hamstring strain to start the Cardinals’ home opener on April 5 against the Diamondbacks.

Flaherty has registered a 2.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 22/3 K/BB ratio in 20 innings (three starts) for Memphis since the demotion. He holds a 2.65 ERA in 105 1/3 career innings at Triple-A.

This might be another one-start deal, but Flaherty is worth activating again in mixed fantasy leagues.

Walker Buehler

National League Quick Hits: Brewers manager Craig Counsell said late Tuesday that Eric Thames will undergo tests on his thumb … Dodgers optioned right-hander Walker Buehler to High-A Rancho Cucamonga with the intention of recalling him as the 26th man to start one half of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Giants … Kris Bryant (head) was held out of the Cubs’ starting lineup on Tuesday night against the Indians … Tyler Mahle took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and struck out a career-high 11 batters in Tuesday’s 9-7 extra-innings win over the Braves … Jay Bruce had three hits -- including a go-ahead solo home run in the top of the 10th inning -- in Tuesday's win over the Cardinals … Joey Votto smashed his first home run of the season in Tuesday's win over the Braves … Making a triumphant return to Kansas City, Lorenzo Cain went 2-for-3 with a homer and two walks in the Brewers' 5-2 victory over the Royals on Tuesday … Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Bud Norris was not available out of the bullpen Tuesday because of "a little soreness” … Scooter Gennett hit his first two home runs of the season Tuesday, with the second one being a walk-off shot in the 12th inning versus the Braves … Christian Villanueva (hamstring) was out of the Padres' starting lineup again on Tuesday night and might be sidelined until Friday … Kyle Schwarber punished a pair of solo home runs Tuesday in Cleveland … Rich Hill (finger) is expecting to return to the Dodgers' rotation Monday in Arizona … Jason Vargas (hand) is set to make his Mets debut on Saturday in San Diego … Padres placed first baseman Eric Hosmer on the family medical emergency list … Freddie Freeman swatted a pair of solo home runs Tuesday in Cincinnati … Wei-Yin Chen (elbow) is scheduled to make his season debut on Saturday night against the Rockies … Devin Mesoraco was scratched from the Reds' starting lineup Tuesday due to neck stiffness … Orlando Arcia was absent from the Brewers' starting lineup on Tuesday because of a stomach bug … Joe Musgrove (shoulder) is scheduled to make a simulated start on Wednesday … Stephen Vogt (shoulder) will head to extended spring training on Wednesday … Cardinals left-hander Brett Cecil (shoulder) has reported to High-A Palm Beach to begin a minor league rehab assignment … Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Yimi Garcia (elbow) will likely be activated sometime in May … Brewers left-hander Boone Logan (triceps) will begin a minor league rehab assignment later this week with Double-A Biloxi … Reds designated right-hander Kevin Quackenbush for assignment.

American League Quick Hits: Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre suffered a left hamstring strain in Tuesday night’s loss to the Athletics and is likely headed to the disabled list … White Sox placed outfielder Avisail Garcia on the 10-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain … Mike Trout became the first player to reach double figures in homers when he took Charlie Morton deep on Tuesday … Xander Bogaerts (ankle) went 2-for-3 with a homer and a double Tuesday in his first rehab game at Triple-A Pawtucket … Gary Sanchez socked a pair of home runs and drove in three runs Tuesday against the Twins … Curtis Granderson went 3-for-5 and delivered a walkoff homer against Craig Kimbrel as the Blue Jays edged the Red Sox in extra innings on Tuesday … Jonathan Schoop (oblique) hit off a tee, took grounders, and threw on Tuesday … Mariners left-hander Marco Gonzales held the White Sox off the scoreboard for six-plus innings in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory … Athletics closer Blake Treinen suffered a bruised right shin Tuesday when he was struck by a Shin-Soo Choo line drive, but he is expected to be fine in a couple of days … Salvador Perez (knee) homered in his return from the disabled list Tuesday against the Brewers … Andrelton Simmons went 3-for-5 with two homers and five RBI in leading the Angels to an 8-7 win over the Astros on Tuesday … Byron Buxton will receive treatment on his bruised left toe in Fort Myers before resuming his minor league rehab assignment … Zach Britton (heel) threw a bullpen session off a regular mound Tuesday at Camden Yards … Ian Kennedy will be in a walking boot for the next 12-24 hours after exiting his start Tuesday night against the Brewers with a bruised right foot … Roberto Osuna took his first blown save after giving up two runs in the ninth Tuesday against the Red Sox … Royals placed setup man Justin Grimm on the 10-day disabled list with lower back stiffness … Greg Bird (ankle) will travel to Tampa on Friday to continue his rehab … Jayson Werth has joined the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma … Steven Wright (knee) is scheduled to resume his rehab assignment Wednesday … Athletics reliever Liam Hendriks recently had a cyst removed from his hip and a platelet-rich plasma injection … Orioles claimed utilityman Jace Peterson off waivers from the Yankees.