Mauricio Dubon leading off for Braves’ opener at Mets

June 12, 2026 - 20:54

With Ronald Acuna Jr. still working his way back from knee surgery, the Atlanta Braves are once again testing out options at the top of the lineup. Manager Brian Snitker has slotted utility man Mauricio Dubon into the leadoff spot for the series opener against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

Dubon, who joined the Braves in a midseason trade last year, has shown a knack for getting on base and providing some speed. While he is not the same kind of game-changing presence as Acuna, he brings a contact-oriented approach that the Braves hope can set the table for the middle of the order. The 29-year-old has experience batting first in previous stops, and the coaching staff is looking for some early-inning consistency.

The decision to start Dubon at the top comes as Atlanta continues to shuffle its outfield alignment. With Acuna on the injured list to start the season, the team has been mixing and matching to find a reliable leadoff hitter. Jarred Kelenic and Michael Harris II have both taken turns at the spot during spring training, but Snitker is going with Dubon for this particular matchup.

It is a small sample size, but the Braves are hoping Dubon can spark some offense against a Mets pitching staff that has been tough early in the year. The team has struggled at times to score without Acuna's spark, and getting production from the leadoff spot has been a point of emphasis.

For now, Dubon gets the first crack. How long he stays there will depend on how quickly he can produce and how soon the Braves' star right fielder can return to action.