The Atlanta Braves host the Kansas City Royals on March 29, 2026. First pitch from Truist Park is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on BravesVsn.
The Braves are favored by -146 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Royals are +124 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 8 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Royals vs Braves prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Royals vs Braves Prediction
- Royals vs Braves Pick: Braves ML (-146 | Play to -150)
My Royals vs Braves best bet is on Atlanta to win outright. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Royals vs Braves Odds
| Royals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -172 | 8 -115o / -105u | +124 |
| Braves Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +142 | 8 -115o / -105u | -146 |
- Royals vs Braves spread: Royals +1.5 (-172), Braves -1.5 (+142)
- Royals vs Braves over/under: 8 (-115o / -105u)
- Royals vs Braves moneyline: Royals +124, Braves -146
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Royals vs Braves Projected Starting Pitchers
| RHP Seth Lugo (KC) | 2025 Stats | RHP Grant Holmes (ATL) |
|---|---|---|
| 8-7 | W-L | 4-9 |
| 0.5 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.9 |
| 4.15 / 5.17 | ERA / xERA | 3.99 / 4.54 |
| 5.09 / 4.53 | FIP / xFIP | 4.40 / 4.04 |
| 1.29 | WHIP | 1.34 |
| 11.5 | K-BB% | 14 |
| 39.0 | GB% | 45.4 |
| 93 | Stuff+ | 92 |
| 97 | Location+ | 100 |
Royals vs Braves Betting Preview
The Royals inked Seth Lugo to a multi-year deal in the middle of last year, and he'll look to start his contract on a good note. Last year, Lugo posted a 4.15 ERA, but had a 5.17 xERA and 5.09 FIP.
I was hoping for Lugo to post good spring results to brush off an ugly finish to the year. Instead, Lugo had a 4.00 ERA in three preseason outings, and opponents hit .316 against him. He also had an 8.31 ERA in two outings for Puerto Rico in the WBC.
He has a strong track record, but I think he's on the downswing of his career at age 36. I plan to fade Lugo in the right matchups and view this as one of them.
Kansas City has the potential to be one of the top offensive teams in the American League. Bobby Witt Jr. is a full-fledged superstar, recording a 130 wRC+ or better the past two seasons. The Royals also have Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez in the top four of the lineup.
What will make or break Kansas City's lineup is youngsters, Carter Jenson and Jac Caglianone. A former top-10 draft pick, Caglianone appeared in 62 games in his rookie campaign, but hit just .157 with a 47 wRC+. If he makes more consistent contact, he can be a premier power bat.
Jenson is the catcher of the future, but his bat can impact KC now. He hit .290 last year with AAA Omaha and hit 14 homers. That would be a nice bottom-of-the-order bat for Matt Quartaro to toggle.
Injuries have once again just ravaged this Braves rotation. One of the few healthy options is Grant Holmes, who turned in a 3.99 with a 4.54 xERA and 4.40 FIP last season in his first year as a full-time starter.
Holmes has some real potential if he can cut down his walks. He issued a 4.23 BB/9 last year, which made his 9.63 K/9 look less impressive.
Action PRO projects Holmes for 5 strikeouts today.
The most important thing for the Braves is getting length from starters. If Holmes has to sacrifice a few strikeouts to get deeper, that's a trade-off Atlanta will take.
How about this Braves lineup? They hadn't scored on Saturday until a sixth-run ninth inning, capped by a Dom Smith walk-off grand slam that gave them the win.
Ronald Acuna Jr. has just one hit so far this year, but the floodgates will open once he starts hitting. Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson and Austin Riley are also terrific hitters to bring the speedy Acuna in when he gets on base.
I also think the Braves have a pulse at the middle-to-bottom of the order this year, which they didn't last year. The addition of Mike Yastrzemski is much better than anything the Braves trotted out in left field last year.
If Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris can post around a 100 wRC+, this Braves lineup could be a terror in the NL.
Royals vs Braves Pick, Betting Analysis
Bullpen-wise, the Braves have a huge edge over the Royals. The eighth/ninth inning duo of Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias should help shorten games.
The bridge to the late-inning arms is solid, too. Dylan Lee and Aaron Bummer are good lefties, and Tyler Kinley has a devastating breaking ball from the right side.
I think Kansas City has some bullpen questions to answer.
Carlos Estevez was terrible in Spring Training and gave up all six runs in the ninth on Saturday. He was throwing 90-92 on his fastball, down from a 96.1 average last year. I'd assume he won't pitch in this game, and Lucas Erceg pitched on Saturday, as well. He would likely close, but this bullpen is far from fresh despite the season being young.
I'll take the Braves -146. Anything below -160 is solid, as that's where I place the line.
The pitching matchup is probably a wash, and the rest of the game favors the home team.
Pick: Braves ML (-146, FanDuel | Play to -150)
