Braves Blast 3 Homers as Chris Sale Shines in Opening Night Win

Atlanta's ace pitcher delivers 6 strong innings in 6-0 victory over Kansas City Royals

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:40am

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The Atlanta Braves opened their season with a dominant 6-0 win over the Kansas City Royals, powered by three home runs and a stellar pitching performance from ace Chris Sale. The veteran left-hander tossed six shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out seven batters to set the tone for the Braves' victory.

Why it matters

The Braves are looking to build on their success from last season and make another deep playoff run, and a convincing opening night win over a quality opponent like the Royals is an encouraging start. Chris Sale's strong outing also bodes well for the Braves' rotation as they aim to compete in the highly competitive National League East division.

The details

The Braves' offense came alive early, with Marcell Ozuna, Matt Olson, and Ronald Acuña Jr. all hitting solo home runs to provide more than enough run support for Sale. The veteran left-hander was in command throughout, needing just 89 pitches to complete six scoreless frames and set the tone for Atlanta's bullpen to close out the win.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 28, 2026, marking the start of the new MLB season.

The players

Chris Sale

A seven-time MLB All-Star and one of the league's premier left-handed pitchers, Chris Sale is the ace of the Atlanta Braves' starting rotation.

Marcell Ozuna

A power-hitting outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, known for his ability to hit for both average and power.

Matt Olson

The Braves' starting first baseman, Matt Olson is a slugger who provides pop in the middle of the lineup.

Ronald Acuña Jr.

One of the most exciting young players in baseball, Ronald Acuña Jr. is the Braves' star outfielder and leadoff hitter.

Kansas City Royals

A professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri, who are members of the American League Central division.

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What they’re saying

“It was a great way to start the season. Our guys came out swinging the bats well and Chris was dominant on the mound. That's the kind of performance we're going to need all year if we want to get back to the playoffs.”

— Brian Snitker, Manager, Atlanta Braves

What’s next

The Braves and Royals will continue their three-game series on Saturday, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:20 PM ET.

The takeaway

The Braves' convincing opening night win, fueled by their power hitting and Chris Sale's dominant pitching, sets them up well as they begin their quest to return to the postseason and compete for a World Series title.