The Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves meet Friday in MLB action at Truist Park. Here’s a Braves vs. Royals Prediction. This article will include a Braves vs. Royals Pick.
Kansas City Royals Betting Preview
The Kansas City Royals won 82 games last season and have won a combined 168 games the last two seasons. The Royals are an AL Central contender led by MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, and Vinnie Pasquantino, one of the better trios in baseball. A pitching staff with Cole Ragans and Michael Wacha at the top, the Royals have swing-and-miss arms along with guys who can go deep into games. The bullpen should also be solid with Matt Strahm, Nick Mears, and Alex Lange joining the squad. On paper there’s a lot to like about the Royals but we’ve said this in past seasons and this franchise has made the playoffs once over the last decade. We’ll see.
Cole Ragans gets the ball for the Kansas City Royals, and he was 3-3 with a 4.67 ERA and 98 strikeouts last season. This will be Ragans’ second career game against the Atlanta Braves.
Atlanta Braves Betting Preview
The Atlanta Braves won 76 games last season, ending a streak of seven straight playoff appearances. The Braves now begin the Walt Weiss era. There’s a lot to like about the Braves, as a lineup of Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, and Michael Harris II can go toe to toe with any in baseball. Chris Sale is still a top-tier ace at 37 years old and the bullpen will be improved with the addition of Robert Suarez. The concern with the Braves is on the injury side, as some of their top guys have had issues staying healthy and we’re seeing it already. Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Hurston Waldrep all begin the season on the injury report. Avoid the injury bug and the Braves should win the NL East and be a contender to make a deep playoff run.
Chris Sale gets the ball for the Atlanta Braves, and he was 7-5 with a 2.58 ERA and 165 strikeouts last season. Sale is 13-10 with a 2.66 ERA and 189 strikeouts in his career against the Kansas City Royals.
Why the Atlanta Braves will win
- The Braves have won each of their last eight Friday games against AL Central opponents.
- The Royals have lost each of their last three season openers.
- The Braves have covered the run line in each of their last eight Friday games against AL Central opponents.
- The Royals have failed to cover the run line in five of their last six games as underdogs against NL East opponents.
- The Braves have led after 5 innings in each of their last four games against American League opponents.
- The Braves have led after 3 innings in each of their last four games against American League opponents.
Why the Kansas City Royals will win
- The Braves have lost three of their last four games as favorites.
- The Royals have won three of their last four games as underdogs.
- The Braves have failed to cover the run line in six of their last seven games as home favorites against American League opponents.
- The road team has covered the run line in 11 of the Braves’ last 13 games.
- The Braves have trailed after 5 innings in four of their last five home games against American League opponents.
- The Braves have trailed after 3 innings in four of their last five home games against American League opponents.
- The Royals have won the first inning in five of their last six night games against National League opponents.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Royals’ last eight night games against NL East opponents has gone OVER the total runs line.
- Four of the Braves’ last five games have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Royals’ last seven night games against NL East opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the last three night games between the Royals and Braves at Truist Park.
Atlanta Braves Player Prop Facts
- Ronald Acuña Jr. has recorded at least one Double in each of his last three appearances in home openers.
- Chris Sale has recorded a win in five of his last six appearances against the Royals.
- Chris Sale has recorded seven or more strikeouts in nine of his last 10 appearances.
- Michael Harris has recorded at least one hit in each of the Braves’ last 10 games as favorites.
- Jurickson Profar has hit at least one home run in three of his last four home appearances against AL Central opponents.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
- Salvador Perez has hit at least one home run in each of the Royals’ last four road openers.
- Vinnie Pasquantino has recorded at least one Double in four of the Royals’ last five games against NL opponents.
- Vinnie Pasquantino has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 appearances with the Royals as underdogs against NL East opponents.
- Bobby Witt Jr. ranked 1st in the league in Hits (184) last season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Braves ranked 3rd in the league for walks last season (575).
- The Braves ranked 26th in the league for steals last season (82).
- The Royals ranked 1st in the league for strikeouts last season (1096).
- The Royals ranked 29th in the league for walks last season (435).
Braves vs Royals Prediction
The Royals have potential and are a division contender, but we’ve heard that before. I need to see something before I jump on board. While talented, Ragans had issues with control last season and keeping the ball in the park. The Braves are talented across the board and there are far fewer questions with Sale on the mound. There should be some energy in the building on opening day and I expect the Braves to make an early statement. We’re also getting Sale at a reasonable price, something you usually don’t get with ace-caliber pitchers. Take advantage of it while you still can. Give me the Braves.