Three homers, flashy gloves back Chris Sale in 6-0 Opening Day win over Royals

Atlanta Braves dominate Kansas City Royals in season opener

Mar. 28, 2026 at 2:21am

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The Atlanta Braves opened their 2026 season with a 6-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals, powered by three home runs and strong defensive plays. Chris Sale overcame an early shaky start to pitch six solid innings, while the Braves' bats came alive against Royals starter Cole Ragans and the bullpen.

Why it matters

This decisive win on Opening Day gives the Braves momentum as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season. The team's ability to hit for power and play solid defense suggests they may be poised for a turnaround, though it's just one game in a long season.

The details

The Braves jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Ozzie Albies hit a solo home run off Ragans. The Royals threatened in the second, loading the bases, but Sale escaped the jam with a double play. The Braves then pulled away with a two-run homer from Drake Baldwin in the third and a two-run shot from Michael Harris II in the fourth. Sale settled in after the early trouble, finishing with six scoreless innings. The Braves' defense also shone, with several highlight-reel plays.

  • The game was played on Opening Day, March 28, 2026.
  • Ozzie Albies hit his home run in the bottom of the first inning.
  • Drake Baldwin hit his home run in the bottom of the third inning.
  • Michael Harris II hit his home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
  • Chris Sale pitched six scoreless innings.

The players

Chris Sale

The veteran left-hander and ace of the Atlanta Braves pitching staff.

Ozzie Albies

The Braves' second baseman, who hit a solo home run in the first inning.

Drake Baldwin

The Braves' catcher, who hit a two-run home run in the third inning.

Michael Harris II

The Braves' young outfielder, who hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning.

Cole Ragans

The Royals' starting pitcher, who struggled against the Braves' lineup.

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What they’re saying

“After a shaky start, Chris Sale really settled in and gave us a great outing. And the bats came alive - that's the kind of performance we need to see more of this season.”

— Walt Weiss, Atlanta Braves Manager

“We just couldn't get anything going against their pitching and defense today. Hats off to the Braves, they played a great game all around.”

— Mike Matheny, Kansas City Royals Manager

What’s next

The two teams will face off again on Saturday, with Reynaldo Lopez taking the mound for the Royals against Michael Wacha of the Braves.

The takeaway

This decisive Opening Day win for the Braves suggests they may be poised for a bounce-back season, with their combination of strong pitching, power hitting, and stellar defense proving too much for the Royals to handle. If they can build on this performance, the Braves could be a force to be reckoned with in the NL East.