Braves, Chris Sale Help Create MLB Opening Day History

Chris Sale dominated the Royals, 6-0, as the Braves help make NL East history on Opening Day weekend.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:06pm

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The Atlanta Braves opened the 2026 MLB season with a dominant 6-0 win over the Kansas City Royals, led by a strong outing from pitcher Chris Sale. The win was part of a historic Opening Day across the NL East, as all five teams in the division won their first game, the first time that has happened in MLB history.

Why it matters

The Braves' performance on Opening Day sent an early message about their potential this season after a frustrating 2025 campaign. With the rest of the NL East also starting 1-0, the division is shaping up to be one of baseball's most competitive in 2026, with no clear early favorite emerging.

The details

Chris Sale went 6.0 innings, allowing just three hits with zero runs, three walks and six strikeouts for the Braves. Ozzie Albies, Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris II each hit home runs to power the Atlanta offense. The win made the NL East the first division in MLB history to have all five teams start the season 1-0.

  • The Braves defeated the Royals on Opening Day, March 28, 2026.

The players

Chris Sale

An All-Star pitcher for the Atlanta Braves who dominated the Royals with 6.0 innings of 3-hit, 0-run ball on Opening Day.

Ozzie Albies

An Atlanta Braves infielder who hit a home run in the team's Opening Day win over the Royals.

Drake Baldwin

An Atlanta Braves outfielder who hit a home run in the team's Opening Day victory.

Michael Harris II

An Atlanta Braves outfielder who hit a home run in the team's Opening Day win.

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What they’re saying

“This is one of those stats where you think, "There's no way that's true." But it's true. Baseball is crazy.”

— Jason Foster

What’s next

The Braves will look to build on their Opening Day win as they continue their series against the Royals. The rest of the NL East teams will also aim to keep their perfect starts going in the early days of the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Braves' dominant Opening Day performance, combined with the historic 1-0 starts across the NL East, set the stage for what could be an incredibly competitive division race in 2026. Atlanta showed it has the pitching and power to lead the pack, but the rest of the NL East appears ready to push them all the way.