Acuña booed as Braves bow out of playoffs — NL East roundup

There were no games on the NL East schedule, but the fallout from Atlanta’s playoff exit and a wave of pitching news around the division kept things busy.

Braves: Acuña booed, Mahle open to a return

The Atlanta Braves’ season ended Wednesday with a playoff loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the reaction at Truist Park turned sour. As reported by CBS Sports, some Braves fans booed Ronald Acuña Jr. after another tough October. The superstar outfielder wrapped up the postseason with a .125 batting average, a jarring number for the centerpiece of a team that went 94-68 and topped the division during the regular season.

Even as the disappointment lingers, the focus is shifting quickly to the offseason. According to MLB Trade Rumors, right-hander Tyler Mahle, a pending free agent, is interested in returning to the Braves. Mahle put together a strong two-month stretch to close the regular season and was even better in the playoffs, where he covered key innings for a pitching staff that lacked reliable starters beyond Chris Sale. His reported interest in a reunion gives Atlanta an important decision to make as it tries to keep its rotation stable around its ace.

Marlins: elbow surgeries for Marsee and Zuber

In Miami, medical updates headline the early winter. MLB Trade Rumors reports that outfielder Jakob Marsee and right-hander Tyler Zuber both met with elbow specialist Dr. Keith Meister at season’s end, and the Marlins announced that each is slated for elbow surgery on Monday. Those kinds of visits seldom bring good news, and the upcoming procedures will impact Miami’s organizational depth going into next year after an 80-82 finish.

Nationals: Justin Lawrence hits the open market

For the Washington Nationals, who closed the season at 77-85, bullpen depth is already changing. Per MLB Trade Rumors, citing the MiLB.com transactions page, reliever Justin Lawrence was among three former big leaguers who elected minor league free agency earlier this week. The right-hander now heads into the open market looking for another shot at a big league role in 2027, while Washington continues to reshape its roster.