Atlanta rides the momentum of yesterday’s shut-out and the comfort of Truist Park to another victory. Expect Reynaldo López to lean on his upper-90s fastball and slider combo; the mix should keep Kansas City’s right-hand heavy middle order in check through two turns. Michael Wacha’s guile and change-up will steal a few early outs, but the Braves’ relentless top four—Acuña Jr., Albies, Riley, Olson—tend to adjust quickly. Look for Riley’s gap power and Olson’s pull-side leverage to break the game open in the fourth inning, chasing Wacha after 5+ frames. The Royals will scratch across a pair: a Bobby Witt Jr. opposite-field homer in the fourth and a late Pasquantino RBI single off the Braves’ bridge reliever. Otherwise, Atlanta’s rebuilt bullpen—Aaron Bummer for lefties and Robert Suárez setting up Raisel Iglesias—locks it down. Acuña jump-starts the scoring with a leadoff double that turns into a run, and he later adds a laser solo shot in the sixth. A seventh-inning insurance tally comes via Albies’ switch-hit single followed by smart baserunning. Braves move to 2-0, Royals to 0-2, as Atlanta’s depth and high-octane offense once again prove too much for Kansas City’s pitching staff.

Probable Pitchers

M. Wacha Royals

4-5 3.58 ERA

69 K

R. López Braves

1-0 4.06 ERA

19 K

Kansas City Royals — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Maikel Garcia	3B	.167	0	0	.375	.167
Bobby Witt Jr.	SS	.375	0	0	.375	.375
Vinnie Pasquantino	1B	.000	0	0	.125	.000
Salvador Perez	C	.250	1	1	.250	.625
Lane Thomas	RF	.250	0	0	.400	.250
Tyler Tolbert	2B	.000	0	0	.000	.000
Isaac Collins	LF	.000	0	0	.143	.000
Kyle Isbel	CF	.333	0	0	.333	.333

Atlanta Braves — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Ronald Acuña Jr.	RF	.125	0	0	.222	.125
Drake Baldwin	C	.143	1	1	.333	.571
Jorge Mateo	PR	.000	0	0	.000	.000
Austin Riley	3B	.571	0	0	.625	.571
Eli White	PR	.250	0	0	.250	.250
Ozzie Albies	2B	.286	1	1	.375	.714
Michael Harris II	CF	.500	1	3	.500	.875
Dominic Smith	DH	.250	1	4	.250	1.000
Mauricio Dubón	SS	.167	0	2	.286	.333

Scoring Plays

▲ 7

Salvador Perez homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field.

1-0

▲ 8

Vinnie Pasquantino reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by first baseman Matt Olson. Maikel Garcia scores. Fielding error by first baseman Matt Olson.

2-0

▼ 9

Mike Yastrzemski singles on a line drive to center fielder Kyle Isbel. Drake Baldwin scores. Jorge Mateo to 3rd.

2-1

▼ 9

Michael Harris II singles on a ground ball to pitcher Carlos Estévez. Jorge Mateo scores. Eli White to 3rd. Ozzie Albies to 2nd.

2-2

▼ 9

Dominic Smith hits a grand slam (1) to right center field. Eli White scores. Ozzie Albies scores. Michael Harris II scores.

2-6

Kansas City Royals — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Maikel Garcia3B	3	1	0	0	1	0	0	.167	.542
Bobby Witt Jr.SS	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.375	.750
Vinnie Pasquantino1B	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000	.125
Salvador PerezC	4	1	1	1	0	0	1	.250	.875
Lane ThomasRF	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250	.650
Carlos EstévezP	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000
Tyler Tolbert2B	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000	.000
Isaac CollinsLF	3	0	0	0	1	2	0	.000	.143
Kyle IsbelCF	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	.333	.666
Totals	32	2	5	1	3	8	1

BATTING

2B: Caglianone (1, Lee, D).

HR: Perez, S (1, 7th inning off López, R, 0 on, 0 out).

TB: Caglianone 3; Isbel; Perez, S 4; Witt Jr.

RBI: Perez, S (1).

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Collins; Witt Jr. 2; Thomas, L.

Team RISP: 0-for-6.

Team LOB: 6.

BASERUNNING

SB: Isbel (1, 2nd base off López, R/Baldwin, D); Witt Jr. (1, 2nd base off Bummer/Baldwin, D).

CS: Collins (1, 2nd base by López, R/Baldwin, D).

FIELDING

Pickoffs: Erceg (Harris II at 1st base).

DP: 2 (Garcia, M-Pasquantino; India-Witt Jr.-Pasquantino).

a-Flied out for Jensen in the 8th.

1-Ran for Caglianone in the 7th.

Atlanta Braves — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Ronald Acuña Jr.RF	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	.125	.347
Drake BaldwinC	3	1	0	0	1	1	0	.143	.904
Jorge MateoPR	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000
Austin Riley3B	4	0	1	0	0	2	0	.571	1.196
Eli WhitePR	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.250	.500
Ozzie Albies2B	3	1	0	0	1	0	0	.286	1.089
Michael Harris IICF	4	1	3	1	0	1	0	.500	1.375
Dominic SmithDH	4	1	1	4	0	1	1	.250	1.250
Mauricio DubónSS	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	.167	.619
Totals	31	6	9	6	4	8	1

BATTING

HR: Smith, Do (1, 9th inning off Estévez, 3 on, 1 out).

TB: Acuña Jr.; Harris II 3; Olson; Riley, A; Smith, Do 4; Yastrzemski 2.

RBI: Harris II (3); Smith, Do 4 (4); Yastrzemski (1).

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Albies; Smith, Do 2.

GIDP: Baldwin, D 2.

Team RISP: 3-for-6.

Team LOB: 4.

BASERUNNING

PO: Harris II (1st base by Erceg).

FIELDING

E: Olson (1, fielding).

1-Ran for Olson in the 9th.

2-Ran for Yastrzemski in the 9th.

Kansas City Royals — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Michael Wacha	6.0	3	0	0	1	7	0	80-57	0.00
Matt Strahm(H, 1)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	13-12	0.00
Lucas Erceg(H, 1)	1.0	1	0	0	1	0	0	12-6	0.00
Carlos Estévez(L, 0-1)(BS, 1)	0.1	4	6	6	2	0	1	27-12	162.00

Atlanta Braves — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Reynaldo López	6.0	3	1	1	2	3	1	77-47	1.50
Dylan Lee	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	18-11	0.00
Joel Payamps	0.1	1	1	0	1	0	0	15-8	0.00
Aaron Bummer	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	0	12-8	0.00
Osvaldo Bido(W, 1-0)	1.0	0	0	0	0	3	0	16-12	0.00

Game Info

Umpires: Home Plate: Mike Muchlinski; First Base: Gabe Morales; Second Base: Emil Jimenez; Third Base: Doug Eddings

Venue: Truist Park, Atlanta

Weather: 64°F, Clear

Wind: 10 mph, L To R

Kansas City Royals — News

Royals Place Seth Lugo On Concussion IL

Lugo (3.86 ERA, 66 SO in 14 starts) exits a KC rotation already thin—Wacha is the only other reliable starter at 3.58 ERA. Morgan (5.51 ERA career minor league) provides bullpen depth only, forcing the Royals to lean on spot starters against Houston tonight.

Seth Lugo

Kansas City Royals

Royals place Isbel on IL with plantar fasciitis; Misner recalled

Isbel (.244 AVG, 0.275 xwOBA) exits with foot injury as KC tries to climb out of a -46 run differential in the AL Central basement. Misner's recall adds depth to a center field rotation already thin on proven production.

Kansas City Royals

Athletics Interested In Kris Bubic Ahead of Trade Deadline

Bubic (4.11 ERA, 9.12 K/9) is a logical rental target for Oakland's deadline push, though the 27-39 Royals are 11-22 on the road and unlikely sellers at full price. Oakland's rotation (Springs 4.37 ERA, 3-6) needs depth after losing three of four, making Bubic's mid-rotation profile appealing despite the xwOBA concern at 0.328.

Kris Bubic

Athletics

Kansas City Royals

Elias Díaz Elects Free Agency Over KC Outright

Díaz rejected assignment after posting a .227 AVG with .298 xwOBA this season, exercising his right as a multi-service veteran. The Royals (25-38, -48 run diff) clear a roster spot but lose depth at a traditionally weak offensive position.

Elias Díaz

Kansas City Royals

Royals Select Josh Rojas From Triple-A

India's shoulder surgery removal to the 60-day IL opens a roster spot for a veteran infielder as Kansas City (24-38, -50 run differential) continues navigating a historically weak offensive season.

Josh Rojas

Kansas City Royals

Atlanta Braves — News

Braves Release Handley, Reinstate Waldrep From 60-Day IL

Handley departs with a .xwOBA of 0 across 60 games, indicating minimal offensive impact on a Braves roster sitting 45-23 with a +114 run differential. Waldrep's reinstatement opens rotation depth for Atlanta, though his IL status suggests he wasn't ready for immediate MLB contribution.

Maverick Handley

Atlanta Braves

Nationals Claim Lara From Braves, Designate Fernandez

Lara has no 2026 stats available, indicating he hasn't pitched in the majors this season. Washington's rotation remains thin with Littell (4.76 ERA, 0-3) starting today against Seattle.

Jhancarlos Lara

Atlanta Braves

Washington Nationals

Braves Place Ronald Acuña Jr. On Injured List With Hamstring Strain

Acuña exits with a .251 AVG and 0.379 xwOBA through 53 games—already underperforming his expected production. Atlanta (45-22, +115 run diff) loses its top outfielder at the worst time, with Sale (2.23 ERA, 86 SO) anchoring a rotation that still carries the division lead but now faces depth questions in an outfield already relying on Luisangel Acuña.

Luisangel Acuña

Ronald Acuña Jr.

Atlanta Braves

Braves Designate Carrasco, Promote Karinchak; Kinley To IL

Karinchak joins a rotation anchored by Sale (2.23 ERA, 86 SO) and Elder (2.66 ERA, 71 SO), while Atlanta loses Kinley's 3.18 ERA from the bullpen—a notable subtraction for the NL East's 45-22 leader with a +115 run differential.

Carlos Carrasco

Atlanta Braves

Chadwick Tromp Elects Free Agency After Braves DFA

Tromp departs with minimal impact after a brief Atlanta stint; Wynns (0 G, .070 AVG, .265 xwOBA) takes the backup catcher role for a 45-21 Braves team that has won 8 of its last 10.

Chadwick Tromp

Atlanta Braves