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

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 27: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves embraces Manager Walt Weiss during player introductions prior the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Friday, March 27, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images One game won’t exorcise all the demons of yesteryear, but the Atlanta Braves made a huge first step in turning things around on Opening Day, dominating the Kansas City Royals to the tune of a 6-0, wire-to-wire victory. Chris Sale was uncharacteristically shaky in the early going, but the bats (three dingers!

) and gloves (lots of flash! ) showed up in full force — sprinkle in a little luck, and you have a recipe for a feel-good Friday night. Things even looked auspicious early.

After a Maikel Garcia single started the game, Sale pumped in a get-me-over fastball to Bobby Witt Jr. , and was “rewarded” with a hard-hit but routine double play ball to Mauricio Dubon at shortstop. Though Royals ace Cole Ragans and his defense got two outs on two grounders in three pitches, Ozzie Albies jumped all over a 2-1 floating changeup and yoinked it into the left-field corner for the Braves’ first homer, and run, of the season.

It was a cheapie, coming off the bat at less than 97 mph and traveling less than 370 feet, but we’re exorcising demons here. Ragans probably didn’t intend to float a 2-1 changeup, and he looked shaky afterwards. Matt Olson yanked a pitch way below the zone for a hard single, and then Ragans walked Austin Riley on four pitches.