Bryce Elder has opened the season looking like the polished version Atlanta always hoped for, pounding the zone with a heavy sinker and generating ground balls at an elite clip. Against a Guardians lineup missing Gabriel Arias and getting minimal production from José Ramírez, Elder should cruise through the early innings. Slade Cecconi’s fastball/slider package can miss bats, but his command lapses and the Braves’ patience set the stage for trouble the second time through the order. Atlanta scratches out a run in the second on a Matt Olson walk followed by a Drake Baldwin RBI double. The big blow comes in the fourth: Olson turns on a center-cut cutter for a two-run homer, taking advantage of Cecconi’s tendency to work up in the zone. Cleveland’s lone early answer is a Chase DeLauter solo shot in the fourth, but Elder strands two later that inning and settles back in. Once the game moves to the bullpens, advantage Atlanta. Aaron Bummer and Tyler Kinley bridge smoothly to Raisel Iglesias, whose flawless start continues. Meanwhile Cleveland’s middle relief falters in the eighth—Ozzie Albies drives a two-run double into the right-center gap after consecutive walks, stretching the lead to 6-1 before a ninth-inning cosmetic run off Joel Payamps closes the scoring. The Braves’ superior run differential, deeper lineup, and sharper bullpen tilt the matchup their way. Expect Atlanta to ride Elder’s efficiency and timely power to a comfortable series-opening win.

Probable Pitchers

S. Cecconi Guardians

3-5 5.25 ERA

50 K

B. Elder Braves

5-3 2.50 ERA

67 K

Cleveland Guardians — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Steven Kwan	CF	.264	1	4	.350	.358
Chase DeLauter	RF	.273	5	11	.340	.659
José Ramírez	3B	.151	1	6	.250	.264
Kyle Manzardo	1B	.103	1	2	.222	.179
Rhys Hoskins	DH	.258	0	3	.378	.419
Juan Brito	2B	.417	0	1	.417	.583
David Fry	C	.214	0	0	.389	.286
Angel Martínez	LF	.333	1	6	.421	.485
Brayan Rocchio	SS	.200	1	6	.347	.300

Atlanta Braves — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Ronald Acuña Jr.	RF	.222	1	4	.317	.333
Drake Baldwin	C	.328	5	16	.391	.621
Matt Olson	1B	.278	4	10	.371	.611
Austin Riley	3B	.224	0	4	.333	.265
Mike Yastrzemski	LF	.190	0	3	.306	.286
Ozzie Albies	2B	.273	3	6	.317	.436
Dominic Smith	DH	.357	2	8	.400	.571
Michael Harris II	CF	.235	2	7	.264	.373
Mauricio Dubón	SS	.347	2	9	.373	.571

Scoring Plays

▼ 3

Ronald Acuña Jr. singles on a ground ball to center fielder Steven Kwan. Dominic Smith scores. Michael Harris II to 3rd.

0-1

▲ 4

Kyle Manzardo homers (1) on a fly ball to center field.

1-1

▲ 5

Steven Kwan singles on a line drive to left fielder Mike Yastrzemski. Angel Martínez scores. Brayan Rocchio to 3rd. Steven Kwan to 2nd. Fielding error by left fielder Mike Yastrzemski.

2-1

▼ 6

Ronald Acuña Jr. homers (1) on a fly ball to left field.

2-2

▼ 6

Matt Olson homers (4) on a fly ball to right field. Drake Baldwin scores.

2-4

▼ 6

Dominic Smith singles on a line drive to right fielder Chase DeLauter. Austin Riley scores.

2-5

▼ 6

Michael Harris II homers (2) on a fly ball to right center field. Dominic Smith scores.

2-7

▼ 7

Ozzie Albies singles on a ground ball to center fielder Steven Kwan. Matt Olson scores. Mike Yastrzemski to 3rd.

2-8

▼ 7

Dominic Smith singles on a line drive to left fielder Angel Martínez. Mike Yastrzemski scores. Ozzie Albies to 2nd.

2-9

▲ 8

Rhys Hoskins singles on a line drive to left fielder Mike Yastrzemski. Chase DeLauter scores.

3-9

▲ 8

Angel Martínez singles on a fly ball to shortstop Mauricio Dubón. Rhys Hoskins scores. Juan Brito scores. David Fry to 3rd.

5-9

▼ 8

Drake Baldwin doubles (2) on a line drive to right fielder Chase DeLauter. Mauricio Dubón scores.

5-10

▼ 8

Austin Riley singles on a line drive to left fielder Angel Martínez. Drake Baldwin scores. Austin Riley to 2nd. Austin Riley advances to 2nd, on a throwing error by left fielder Angel Martínez.

5-11

Cleveland Guardians — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Steven KwanCF	4	0	2	0	1	1	0	.264	.708
Chase DeLauterRF	4	1	1	0	1	0	0	.273	.999
José Ramírez3B	4	0	0	0	1	1	0	.151	.514
Kyle Manzardo1B	4	1	1	1	0	2	1	.103	.401
Rhys HoskinsDH	4	1	1	1	0	1	0	.258	.797
Juan Brito2B	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	.417	1.000
David FryC	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.214	.675
Angel MartínezLF	4	1	2	2	0	0	0	.333	.906
Brayan RocchioSS	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	.200	.647
Totals	34	5	8	4	5	5	1

BATTING

2B: DeLauter (2, Suarez, J).

HR: Manzardo (1, 4th inning off Elder, 0 on, 1 out).

TB: Brito; DeLauter 2; Hoskins; Kwan 2; Manzardo 4; Martínez, A 2.

RBI: Hoskins (3); Manzardo (2); Martínez, A 2 (6).

2-out RBI: Hoskins; Martínez, A 2.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rocchio; Manzardo 2.

GIDP: DeLauter.

Team RISP: 3-for-8.

Team LOB: 7.

BASERUNNING

SB: Martínez, A (3, 2nd base off Elder/Baldwin, D).

FIELDING

E: Martínez, A (1, throw).

PB: Naylor, B (1).

DP: (Rocchio-Manzardo).

a-Walked for Naylor, B in the 8th.

Atlanta Braves — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Ronald Acuña Jr.RF	5	1	2	2	0	0	1	.222	.650
Drake BaldwinC	5	2	2	1	0	1	0	.328	1.012
Matt Olson1B	4	2	1	2	1	0	1	.278	.982
Austin Riley3B	4	1	2	1	1	0	0	.224	.598
Mike YastrzemskiLF	4	1	0	0	1	2	0	.190	.592
Ozzie Albies2B	4	0	1	1	0	1	0	.273	.753
Dominic SmithDH	4	2	3	2	0	0	0	.357	.971
Michael Harris IICF	4	1	2	2	0	1	1	.235	.637
Mauricio DubónSS	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	.347	.944
Totals	38	11	15	11	3	5	3

BATTING

2B: Dubón (5, Festa, M); Baldwin, D (2, Allard).

HR: Acuña Jr. (1, 6th inning off Cecconi, 0 on, 0 out); Olson (4, 6th inning off Cecconi, 1 on, 0 out); Harris II (2, 6th inning off Festa, M, 1 on, 2 out).

TB: Acuña Jr. 5; Albies; Baldwin, D 3; Dubón 3; Harris II 5; Olson 4; Riley, A 2; Smith, Do 3.

RBI: Acuña Jr. 2 (4); Albies (6); Baldwin, D (16); Harris II 2 (7); Olson 2 (10); Riley, A (4); Smith, Do 2 (8).

2-out RBI: Harris II 2; Albies; Riley, A; Smith, Do 2.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Harris II; Acuña Jr.; Yastrzemski.

GIDP: Baldwin, D.

Team RISP: 6-for-13.

Team LOB: 6.

FIELDING

E: Yastrzemski (1, fielding).

DP: (Olson-Dubón-Olson).

Cleveland Guardians — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Slade Cecconi(L, 0-2)	5.1	7	5	4	1	3	2	85-50	5.74
Matt Festa	0.2	3	2	2	0	0	1	17-13	8.10
Peyton Pallette	1.0	2	2	2	2	1	0	37-20	4.70
Kolby Allard	1.0	3	2	2	0	1	0	18-15	7.94

Atlanta Braves — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Bryce Elder	4.2	4	2	2	3	3	1	76-43	1.02
Aaron Bummer	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	6-4	0.00
Tyler Kinley(W, 2-0)	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10-9	0.00
Dylan Lee	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	7-7	1.35
José Suarez	0.2	4	3	3	1	1	0	31-18	9.95
Joel Payamps(H, 1)	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	3-2	3.00
Osvaldo Bido	1.0	0	0	0	1	0	0	14-7	1.29

Game Info

Umpires: Home Plate: Dexter Kelley; First Base: Chris Conroy; Second Base: John Tumpane; Third Base: Brennan Miller

Venue: Truist Park, Atlanta

Weather: 76°F, Clear

Wind: 3 mph, L To R

Cleveland Guardians — News

Guardians defeat Yankees behind strong rotation play

CLE's win extends their streak to 5-5 over last 10 games behind Williams' 3.07 ERA and 8-3 record, while Yankees' 36-24 record masks rotation vulnerability—Weathers (3.52 ERA) is their primary starter with a modest 2-3 mark.

Kyle Harrison

San Francisco Giants

New York Yankees

Milwaukee Brewers

Rocchio: 1-for-2 with two steals, RBI in Guardians win

Rocchio continues limited offensive production (.293 AVG, .319 xwOBA) but contributed defensively in Cleveland's 9-4 victory over New York.

Brayan Rocchio

Cleveland Guardians

Goldschmidt: 4 RBI in Yankees loss to Guardians

Goldschmidt's 3-for-5 performance doesn't offset New York's run differential advantage (36-23, +98) against Cleveland (34-27, +1) in a division-relevant matchup.

Paul Goldschmidt

New York Yankees

Cleveland Guardians

Bibee winless through 12 starts as Cleveland loses to Boston

Bibee's 0-7 record with a 4.57 ERA and 1.32 WHIP stands in stark contrast to rotation-mate Williams (8-3, 3.07 ERA), exposing a critical weakness in Cleveland's rotation depth as the division-leading Guardians (34-26) lean heavily on their ace.

Tanner Bibee

Cleveland Guardians

Guardians Select Fairchild; Kwan to Bereavement List

Kwan's absence removes a 54-game contributor (.207 AVG, .297 OBP, 34 BB) from a first-place CLE lineup mid-stretch. Fairchild enters a roster spot with no 2026 stats available, while Arias moves to 60-day IL to create 40-man space.

Stuart Fairchild

Cleveland Guardians

Atlanta Braves — News

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

Braves Designate Carrasco For Assignment (4th time since August)

Molina's recall addresses depth as ATL remains 38-19 (+103 run diff) with Sale (2.02 ERA, 80 SO) and Elder (2.50 ERA) anchoring a rotation that doesn't require immediate reinforcement. Carrasco's 0.245 xwOBA indicates he hasn't pitched in 2026.

Carlos Carrasco

Atlanta Braves