Our Royals vs. Braves prediction is the over for total runs.
The Royals and Braves enter their three-game interleague series in Atlanta with different — but similar —agendas. The Braves are still on the outside of the playoff picture looking in while the Royals are all but assured a playoff spot thanks to the Twins’ collapse.
Braves Clearly Favored
| Team | Run Line | Money Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royals | +1.5 (-135) | +157 | O 7 (-121) |
| Braves | -1.5 (+115) | -172 | U 7 (+101) |
Royals Have Easier Playoff Road
As the final weekend of MLB’s regular season gets underway, the playoff scenario is clear for the Royals, less so for the Braves.
The Twins appeared to have locked up a playoff spot but barring a borderline miracle, their 9-15 September swoon has extinguished their lofty hopes for a championship run. With that, the door was opened for the scorching hot Tigers and the Royals to grab spots in the postseason.
If the Royals win one game this series or the Twins lose one in their series vs. the Orioles, the Royals make the playoffs. Simple.
Still, there is some jockeying to be done regarding which team plays what opponent. The Wild Card qualifier with the worst record will play the Astros in the first round. Since the Royals and Tigers have identical 85-74 records, the Wild Card round matchups are still up in the air. The Tigers are playing a three-game series in Detroit against the 120-loss White Sox.
The Braves trail both the Mets and Diamondbacks by one game for the second Wild Card spot in the National League. They need to win more than the Royals do.
Friday’s Starting Pitchers Are Evenly Matched
The Royals starting pitcher is righty Brady Singer. The Braves counter with lefty Max Fried.
After poor weather canceled the Braves’ final two games of their critical series against the Mets, their bullpen is rested. Fried is 10-10 with a 3.42 ERA on the season, but has been consistently excellent since getting knocked around in his first two starts of the season. Very few Royals have experience facing Fried. Hunter Renfroe is 3 for 11 with 1 double and 1 home run.
Braves catcher Sean Murphy has tormented Singer with 4 hits in 5 career at-bats including 2 doubles and a home run. Jarred Kelenic is 2 for 5 with a double and a home run against him; Matt Olson 2 for 5 with a home run; and Adam Duvall 1 for 3 with a home run. Marcell Ozuna has been on fire for the Braves with 13 hits and 2 home runs in his last seven games.
The Braves have multi-pronged concerns. They need to win their own games, hope the Brewers handle the Mets and the Padres handle the Diamondbacks. They must also save some pitching bullets for the potentially crucial makeup doubleheader against the Mets in Atlanta on Sept. 30.
Royals vs. Braves Prediction
Since this game is so vital in varying degrees for both teams, picking the over in total runs is likely a safer option.
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