José Soriano’s electric start to the season continues, but the Braves’ deep left-handed power and plate discipline chip away just enough. Matt Olson jumps on a first-inning fastball and puts Atlanta ahead early, and a third-inning sequence of patient at-bats capped by Austin Riley’s sacrifice fly doubles the edge. Soriano settles in, yet his pitch count climbs and Ozzie Albies ambushes a sixth-inning curveball for a solo shot before the Angels can get to their bullpen. Chris Sale mixes sliders and changeups to neutralize the Angels’ right-handed bats, punching out eight over six innings. Los Angeles finally breaks through in the fifth when Zach Neto turns on an inside heater, plating Nolan Schanuel, but Sale strands the tying run. Mike Trout is in the lineup but swings cautiously after yesterday’s bruise; he draws two walks yet never drives the ball with authority. The Braves’ bullpen—Aaron Bummer, Reynaldo López and Raisel Iglesias—locks down the late frames. A two-out eighth-inning rally, keyed by Ronald Acuña Jr.’s stolen base and Jorge Mateo’s line-drive single, provides an insurance run that looms large when Jo Adell triples home a run off Joel Payamps in the bottom half. Atlanta’s combination of frontline pitching, superior run prevention (league-best 2.20 staff ERA) and a lineup capable of manufacturing runs even while two stars scuffle proves decisive. Sale improves to 3-0, Iglesias notches his fourth save, and the Braves leave Anaheim with a crisp 4-2 victory.

Probable Pitchers

R. López Braves

1-0 4.21 ERA

19 K

Y. Kikuchi Angels

0-3 5.81 ERA

32 K

Atlanta Braves — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Ronald Acuña Jr.	RF	.178	0	2	.283	.200
Drake Baldwin	DH	.327	5	14	.389	.653
Ozzie Albies	2B	.277	3	4	.333	.468
Matt Olson	1B	.283	2	6	.365	.543
Austin Riley	3B	.190	0	3	.277	.214
Mauricio Dubón	SS	.350	2	7	.381	.575
Michael Harris II	CF	.227	1	5	.244	.318
Jonah Heim	C	.091	0	1	.286	.091
Mike Yastrzemski	LF	.229	0	3	.325	.343

Los Angeles Angels — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Zach Neto	SS	.229	4	6	.339	.521
Mike Trout	CF	.211	2	3	.412	.395
Nolan Schanuel	1B	.244	2	7	.319	.439
Jeimer Candelario	DH	.118	0	0	.211	.235
Yoán Moncada	3B	.091	1	3	.268	.182
Jo Adell	RF	.283	1	5	.313	.348
Bryce Teodosio	LF	.143	0	1	.143	.143
Travis d'Arnaud	C	.100	0	0	.100	.200
Adam Frazier	2B	.273	0	1	.385	.364

Scoring Plays

▼ 1

Jorge Soler homers (2) on a line drive to left field. Mike Trout scores.

0-2

▲ 2

Eli White doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Josh Lowe. Matt Olson scores.

1-2

▲ 4

Austin Riley singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jo Adell. Matt Olson scores.

2-2

▲ 4

Eli White out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Mike Trout. Austin Riley scores. Mauricio Dubón to 3rd.

3-2

▲ 4

Jonah Heim singles on a fly ball to left fielder Josh Lowe. Mauricio Dubón scores.

4-2

▲ 8

Ozzie Albies homers (3) on a fly ball to right center field.

5-2

▲ 9

Drake Baldwin singles on a line drive to center fielder Mike Trout. Mike Yastrzemski scores. Ronald Acuña Jr. to 2nd.

6-2

▲ 9

Matt Olson grounds into a double play, third baseman Yoán Moncada to first baseman Nolan Schanuel. Ronald Acuña Jr. scores. Drake Baldwin out at 3rd. Ozzie Albies to 2nd. Matt Olson out at 1st.

7-2

Atlanta Braves — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Ronald Acuña Jr.RF	5	1	1	0	0	2	0	.178	.483
Drake BaldwinDH	5	0	2	1	0	2	0	.327	1.042
Ozzie Albies2B	4	1	1	1	1	2	1	.277	.801
Matt Olson1B	4	2	1	0	1	2	0	.283	.908
Austin Riley3B	5	1	2	1	0	1	0	.190	.491
Mauricio DubónSS	4	1	2	0	0	1	0	.350	.956
Michael Harris IICF	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.227	.562
Jonah HeimC	4	0	1	1	0	0	0	.091	.377
Mike YastrzemskiLF	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	.229	.668
Totals	37	7	12	6	3	12	1

BATTING

2B: Olson (6, Kikuchi); White, E (1, Kikuchi); Dubón (3, Kikuchi).

HR: Albies (3, 8th inning off Anderson, S, 0 on, 0 out).

TB: Acuña Jr.; Albies 4; Baldwin, D 2; Dubón 3; Harris II; Heim; Olson 2; Riley, A 2; White, E 2.

RBI: Albies (4); Baldwin, D (14); Heim (1); Riley, A (3); White, E 2 (2).

2-out RBI: White, E.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Riley, A; Heim 2.

SF: White, E.

GIDP: Olson.

Team RISP: 4-for-10.

Team LOB: 7.

FIELDING

E: Riley, A (1, throw); Mateo (1, throw).

DP: (Iglesias, R-Dubón-Olson).

a-Grounded out for Mateo in the 7th.

b-Singled for White, E in the 8th.

Los Angeles Angels — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Zach NetoSS	5	0	1	0	0	4	0	.229	.860
Mike TroutCF	5	1	1	0	0	2	0	.211	.807
Nolan Schanuel1B	4	0	1	0	1	1	0	.244	.758
Jeimer CandelarioDH	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.118	.446
Yoán Moncada3B	3	0	0	0	1	2	0	.091	.450
Jo AdellRF	4	0	2	0	0	0	0	.283	.661
Bryce TeodosioLF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.143	.286
Travis d'ArnaudC	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.100	.300
Adam Frazier2B	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	.273	.749
Totals	33	2	6	2	4	14	1

BATTING

2B: Schanuel (2, López, R).

HR: Soler (2, 1st inning off López, R, 1 on, 2 out).

TB: Adell 2; Neto; Schanuel 2; Soler 4; Trout.

RBI: Soler 2 (10).

2-out RBI: Soler 2.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: d'Arnaud 2; Moncada; Candelario; Peraza, O.

GIDP: Schanuel.

Team RISP: 1-for-11.

Team LOB: 10.

BASERUNNING

SB: Adell (1, 2nd base off López, R/Heim).

FIELDING

DP: (Moncada-Schanuel).

a-Struck out for Soler in the 5th.

b-Walked for Peraza, O in the 7th.

c-Struck out for Lowe, J in the 8th.

Atlanta Braves — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Reynaldo López	4.2	3	2	2	7	1	80-49	1.15
Tyler Kinley(W, 1-0)	0.2	1	0	0	2	0	13-9	0.00
Dylan Lee(H, 1)	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	9-8	1.59
Robert Suarez(H, 2)	1.0	0	0	1	2	0	26-14	0.00
Aaron Bummer(H, 2)	0.1	0	0	1	0	0	17-10	0.00
Raisel Iglesias(S, 2)	1.2	2	0	0	3	0	22-18	0.00

Los Angeles Angels — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Yusei Kikuchi(L, 0-2)	5.0	6	4	4	1	8	0	97-60	6.75
Shaun Anderson	3.0	5	3	3	1	4	1	62-39	4.50
Mitch Farris	1.0	1	0	0	1	0	0	14-8	0.00

Game Info

Umpires: Home Plate: Edwin Moscoso; First Base: Vic Carapazza; Second Base: Nic Lentz; Third Base: Hunter Wendelstedt

Venue: Angel Stadium, Anaheim

Weather: 72°F, Clear

Wind: 9 mph, Out To LF

Atlanta Braves — News

Braves Acquire Austin Wynns, Designate Chadwick Tromp

Wynns arrives with minimal track record (1 AB, .077 AVG) while Tromp departs after a brief stint; this is depth shuffling for Atlanta's catching position with no immediate roster impact on a 42-20 team.

Austin Wynns

Chadwick Tromp

Atlanta Braves

MLB Mailbag: Royals, Cubs, Jordan Walker, Braves

Royals' 23-38 record and -53 run differential (233 RS, 286 RA) reflect offensive collapse despite Wacha's 3.23 ERA and Lugo's 3.55 ERA—rotation competence can't overcome league-worst away record (8-21). Jordan Walker (STL) at .372 xwOBA on 58 G represents legitimate extension candidate, though Cubs' pitching decay (Taillon 5.37 ERA, Rea 4.70 xwOBA .353) argues against deadline aggression at 32-29.

Jordan Walker

Atlanta Braves

Chicago Cubs

Kansas City Royals

Braves lead MLB at 41-20 with elite run differential

Atlanta's +110 run differential (320 RS, 210 RA) reflects a rotation anchored by Sale (2.02 ERA, 80 SO in 11 starts) and Elder (2.50 ERA, 67 SO), with both starters posting elite xwOBA marks (.284) that suggest the advantages are sustainable rather than lucky. The 23-10 road record indicates this isn't a home-field mirage heading into a crucial stretch.

Atlanta Braves

Mets playing 12 extra-inning games; three more than any other team

NYM (26-34, -14 run diff) is 4-6 in last 10 and 11-19 on the road—extra-inning games expose depth bullpens and compress rest, compounding their already weak run differential. Harrison (1.57 ERA, 15 SO in 14.2 IP) faces a MIL team while Gausman (3.13 ERA, 8.61 K/9) opposes Braves starters Elder (2.50 ERA) and Sale (2.02 ERA) in a matchup favoring Atlanta's elite rotation.

Atlanta Braves

New York Mets

Braves Outright Carlos Carrasco to Triple-A

Carrasco (0 G, 0 IP in 2026) clears waivers as Atlanta's rotation remains anchored by Sale (2.02 ERA, 8-3) and Elder (2.50 ERA, 4-3) on a 40-20 team. His xwOBA of 0.245 suggests limited impact if recalled.

Carlos Carrasco

Atlanta Braves

Los Angeles Angels — News

Angels Recall Schanuel, Lose Soler to Oblique Strain

Schanuel returns with a .262 AVG and .311 xwOBA after 49 games, but Soler's departure removes LAA's primary power threat (.402 SLG, 9 HR in 58 games). The Angels sit 24-40 with a -52 run differential heading into Saturday's matchup against the division-leading Dodgers (41-23, +134 run diff).

Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Dodgers

Angels Sign Catcher Logan Porter To Minor League Deal

Porter clears waivers after SF's outright and joins LAA's Triple-A affiliate. The Angels remain 24-39 with a -51 run differential, indicating depth moves at catcher won't address their offensive struggles.

Logan Porter

Los Angeles Angels

Angels Select Samy Natera, DFA Shaun Anderson

Natera replaces Anderson (5.94 ERA, 0.369 xwOBA) in a bullpen arms shuffle. LAA sits 24-39 with a -51 run differential and faces Dodgers' Sasaki today.

Shaun Anderson

Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Dodgers

Angels Re-Sign Joey Lucchesi to Minor League Deal

Lucchesi posted a 13.50 ERA in minor league action this season and never appeared in an MLB game, making this a depth move for a 23-39 Angels team that has cycled through roster options due to depth issues behind Soriano (2.72 ERA, 6-4).

Joey Lucchesi

Los Angeles Angels

Angels Select Anderson, Option Aldegheri

Anderson carries a 5.94 ERA and 0.369 xwOBA with no MLB innings pitched this season, a depth addition for LAA (23-39, -58 run diff) as they shuffle the roster around injuries.

Shaun Anderson

Los Angeles Angels