Atlanta Braves vs Boston Red Sox — Mar 21, 2026 | AI Prediction & Stats

Expect a fascinating duel between Boston’s Brayan Bello and Atlanta’s Spencer Strider. Bello’s improved change-up should keep the Braves quiet early, but Strider’s elite fastball/slider combo is likely to silence the middle of Boston’s order through the first five frames. Atlanta’s deep lineup—anchored by Acuña Jr., Riley, and Olson—figures out Bello the second time through, plating two in the third on a Riley double and an Olson sac fly. Boston scratches back with a Devers solo shot in the fourth, but Strider strands runners in scoring position twice, limiting further damage. Once the game moves to the bullpens, Atlanta’s superior relief corps makes the difference. Joe Jiménez and A.J. Minter deliver clean seventh and eighth innings, while Boston’s bridge arms struggle: a walk and a stolen base from Acuña set up Albies’ RBI single in the fifth, and Sean Murphy’s two-run homer off a fatigued Chris Martin in the seventh opens daylight. Kenley Jansen’s heavy spring workload shows; he surrenders an insurance run in the ninth on a Harris II triple and a productive ground-out. Boston’s offense keeps fighting—an RBI double from Casas in the sixth and a Verdugo bloop single in the eighth—but the gap is too wide. Atlanta’s balance, bullpen depth, and late-inning experience carry them to a 6-3 victory, consolidating their place atop the standings while Boston slips two games under .500.