Last year the Braves suffered their first losing season since 2017, dropping 86 games amid a myriad of injuries. New manager Walt Weiss is hoping for better health this year, but the team is already missing catcher Sean Murphy, infielder Ha-Seong Kim, and pitchers Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Joe Jiménez to begin the season. Still, PECOTA projects them for 89 wins, and they still feature a team with some big boppers and solid arms.
Kansas City Royals (0-0) vs. Atlanta Braves (0-0)
Royals*:
4.02 runs scored/game (26th in MLB), 3.93 runs allowed/game (4th)
Braves: 4.47 runs scored/game (13th), 4.53 runs allowed/game (20th)
*-All numbers from 2025
The Braves offense was in the middle of the pack last year in runs scored, although they fared better in the second half of the season. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley each missed significant time with injury last year, but are capable of providing All-Star numbers. Matt Olson was 11th among National League hitters in fWAR, and tied for 13th in the league with 29 home runs. Michael Harris II became the 12th player in Braves history to put up a 20/20 season.
The team added former Royals outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, who hit very well down the stretch in Kansas City last season. He will have to make up for the loss of Marcell Ozuna, who left for the Pirates, and Jurickson Profar, who will serve a year-long suspension for PEDs. Slick-fielding Mauricio Dubón takes over at shortstop, and the team filled out the roster with non-roster invitees Dominic Smith and Kyle Farmer.
*-All numbers from 2025
The Braves pitching staff has been hit hard with injuries over the last year, but 2024 Cy Young winner Chris Sale is healthy enough to get the Opening Day start. The 36-year-old has a 13-10 record against the Royals in his career with a 2.66 ERA in 189.2 innings.
Reynaldo López missed most of last year after a shoulder injury that required surgery, and there is concern he may not be right after some low velocity numbers in spring training. He had a 1.99 ERA in his first year with the Braves in 2024, earning an All-Star nod.
Grant Holmes is recovering from a partially torn UCL and a flexor strain that ended his season prematurely last season. He throws his slider 35 percent of the time, and opponents hit just .183 against it last year.
*-All numbers from 2025
Robert Suarez led the National League with 40 saves in San Diego last year. He will set up Braves closer Raisel Iglesias this year, giving them one of the best 1-2 bullpen combos in baseball. The Braves bullpen had a 4.19 ERA last year, but was awful down the stretch as injuries piled up. This year’s pen gets thin quickly, with former Royals reliever Joel Payamps winning a spot, along with rookie Didier Fuentes.
*-All numbers from 2025
This will be just the sixth visit to Atlanta for the Royals, but they took two of three against the Braves last year in Kansas City. The Braves are a good team, but injuries have exposed them a bit. The Royals have a chance to get the season off to a good start if they can get the bats going early.
