All articles tagged with #atlanta braves
Dominic Smith hit a bases-loaded walk-off grand slam off Royals closer Carlos Estevez in the bottom of the ninth, giving Atlanta a 6-2 win and the series over Kansas City; it was his first hit with the Braves, and he finished 1-for-4 with four RBI and a run, with the recap noting other early-season power performances from hitters such as Shea Langeliers, Jorge Soler, and Jake Burger to illustrate a lively fantasy landscape.
The Royals fell 6-2 at Atlanta in a ninth-inning walk-off after closer Carlos Estévez allowed a string of hits and walks following six strong innings from Braves starter Michael Wacha. Salvador Perez homered for KC, and Maikel Garcia scored in the eighth on a Pasquantino grounder. The game also drew attention for a controversial in-game interview with Chris Sale during the Fox broadcast, prompting questions about broadcast integrity. KC starts 0-2; Seth Lugo will start tomorrow against Grant Holmes in a day game on Royals.TV.
The Atlanta Braves opened the 2026 season with a 6-0 win over the Kansas City Royals, as Albies, Baldwin, and Harris II homered and the offense tallied 11 hits behind six strong innings from Chris Sale and a stingy bullpen. Atlanta will try for a series win tonight. Off the field, BravesVision is expanding with new carriage on Fubo and DIRECTV. Other notes include the Gwinnett Stripers’ Opening Day roster (excluding Jhancarlos Lara), Jason Heyward’s retirement after a 16-year career, the Orioles’ five-year, $68 million extension for Shane Baz, and Clayton Kershaw joining the Dodgers as a special assistant to the front office.
The Braves’ Opening Day 2026 lineup features Ozzie Albies batting third against left-hander Cole Ragans, with Eli White and Jonah Heim providing a defensively oriented trio alongside Mauricio Dubon. The piece notes possible lineup shuffles and a potential rise for Carter Jensen, while the Royals counter with a lineup including Starling Marte and Isaac Collins. Early bullpen and matchup considerations are expected as both teams deploy short starts, with limited historical data against Ragans and Chris Sale and Perez’s track record against Sale cited.
Royals were shut out 6-0 by Atlanta on Opening Day as Cole Ragans walked and allowed four runs in four innings; Bailey Falter allowed two runs over three relief innings, while Alex Lange pitched a clean eighth. Kansas City had five hits and limited offense, though the top of the order reached twice. They’ll try to rebound against Michael Wacha and Reynaldo López in the next game, which will be televised on FOX.
Jason Heyward announced his retirement after 16 MLB seasons with the Braves, Cubs, Dodgers and Padres, saying he’s grateful to have lived his dream. A first-round pick who debuted in 2010, Heyward earned five Gold Gloves, helped the Cubs break their 108-year championship drought, and finished his career with a .255 batting average, 186 home runs in 1,824 games and 45 postseason appearances.
Spencer Strider will miss the start of the season with a strained oblique, sending Atlanta into a reshuffle of its Opening Day rotation and boosting depth-chart questions as the timeline for his return remains unclear.
Didier Fuentes has dazzled in Braves spring training, throwing 9 innings with 0 hits, 0 walks, 1 hit-by-pitch and 17 strikeouts, while sitting at 97–99 mph and flashing three above-average pitches. Braves coach Jeremy Hefner says he’s a work in progress but showing real development, making a late-opening-day call-up unlikely but increasing the odds of a future big-league role as the season unfolds after more minor-league seasoning.
Braves pitcher Joey Wentz tore his ACL in a spring-training game and will miss the 2026 season, further thinning Atlanta’s rotation alongside fellow absences Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep. With Wentz out, the Braves’ depth chart features Strider, Sale, López and Holmes as the top four, Bryce Elder likely taking the fifth spot, JR Ritchie in the mix, and veteran depth from Pérez, Carrasco and Suárez; Wentz previously debuted for Detroit in 2022 and appeared in 14 games (13 starts) for Atlanta in 2025.
Braves left-hander Joey Wentz will miss the 2026 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee and will be moved to the 60-day injured list; his absence amplifies Atlanta’s rotation depth questions as spring progress continues and personnel decisions loom amid other injuries and roster considerations.
Spencer Strider showed elite velocity (95-96 mph) and a sharp slider in 2.1 innings as Atlanta beat Toronto 9-5 in spring training, supported by a Dominic Smith first-spring homer, a Austin Riley sac fly, an RBI double by Mauricio Dubón, a Drake Baldwin two-run single, and a three-run double from Tristin English to seal the win, while Chris Sale started and Chipper Jones visited hitters ahead of the next game versus the Twins.
Elbow injuries to Schwellenbach and Waldrep threaten Atlanta's rotation, fueling talk of a Giolito signing as Opening Day nears; the column also covers Jurickson Profar's PED bans and the Braves' profitability under ownership.
Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar has been handed a 162-game suspension for testing positive for a performance‑enhancing drug, likely sidelining him for the 2026 season and forcing the team to explore internal and external options to fill the outfield. The Players Association plans to challenge the suspension, and the grievance process could delay any ban as MLB’s drug program reviews the case. The piece also notes other MLB PED suspensions and related roster considerations.
Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar faces a 162-game suspension for a second PED violation, with MLB and the union likely to pursue a grievance to an independent arbitrator. If imposed, he would miss the season and postseason and forfeit about $15 million of this year’s $42 million contract; Profar previously served an 80-game ban for hCG, and Atlanta must navigate his absence as spring training continues and replacements are considered.
Jurickson Profar reportedly faces a full-season 162-game suspension for PED usage, leaving the Braves without a key contributor in 2026 as the MLBPA plans a grievance on the move.