The Braves are looking for redemption after missing the postseason last year for the first time since 2017.
ATLANTA, Ga. - The Atlanta Braves are hosting the Kansas City Royals on Friday to kick off their 2026 campaign. The Braves are looking for redemption after missing the postseason last year for the first time since 2017.
The same could be said for the Royals, who reached the American League Divisional Series in 2024 but failed to replicate that success in 2025.4th inning It was a 1-2-3 fourth inning for Sale. For the Braves, you can add Michael Harris II on the list of homers off Cole Ragans on Friday, as the nine-hole hitter took Ragans 372 feet to the Chop House in right field to put the Braves up 4-0.Sale racked up the first two outs of the inning via strikeouts of Carter Jensen and Witt. The third out, however? An Eli White diving catch, robbing Salvador Perez of a single, saving a potential earned run via one of the two Royals on base. Drake Baldwin hit his first home run of the season off Ragans in the bottom of the third: A 370-foot shot to the Chop House to put the Braves up 2-0.C Drake Baldwin, who turns 25 on Saturday. Some forget that Baldwin raked off lefties last season . 370 feet to the Chop House. Two innings, two double plays for Chris Sale. This time, he gets Royals’ Isaac Collins to get out of a bases-loaded jam. As for Atlanta, it couldn’t get much done off Cole Ragans this time around. Ragans capped the inning off with a four-pitch strikeout of Ronald Acuña Jr.It was a solid inning for Braves starter Chris Sale. He allowed a single to Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia but got Bobby Witt Jr. to ground into a double play on the next pitch. He then struck out Lane Thomas on a 97.6 mph fastball. In the bottom half, the Braves got on the board fast as Ozzie Albies took Royals left-handed starter Cole Ragans deep. Manager Walt Weiss said before the game that he wanted Albies in the 3 hole because of how well he hits right-handed.2B Ozzie Albies just cranked a 367-foot solo shot off Royals LHP Cole Ragans in the first inning. Manager Walt Weiss said before the game that he wanted Ozzie in the 3 hole vs. left-handers because of how well he hits right-handed.Family rejects $26M from AI company to keep farmland from being turned into a data center New bill in this state would require drivers over age 75 to take tests every 4 years to keep licensesLIVE: Walt Weiss' debut as Atlanta Braves Manager at Opening DayAtlanta Braves, Gray Media to simulcast 25 games on free, local over-the-air TV stations across Southeast
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