It’s the start of an interleague series on the diamond between a pair of teams looking to gain ground in their respective divisions in the Midwest. The Atlanta Braves are on the road as they play the opening game of a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals Friday night. Atlanta earned a three-game sweep of the Reds at home as they picked up a 5-4 victory in the series finale Wednesday. Kansas City salvaged the finale of their three-game road set with the Rangers as they picked up a 10-1 win on Wednesday in their previous game. The Royals took the season series the last time these teams met in 2019, 3-1, though they split a two-game set at Kauffman Stadium in the most recent series September 24-25, 2019.
I won $14,619 in parlay tickets in the month of November, hit a 47-1 parlay to kick off the New Year plus 14 more four-teamers worth more than $1 3,000 in the last eight weeks! Don't miss out on another big payday! Click here to get a month of my parlays for only $50 (normally $100)!
Atlanta earned a third straight win after three consecutive defeats as they swept the Reds at home with a win Wednesday. The Braves entered Thursday 9-4 on the year and held a two-game lead on the Mets for the top spot in the NL East race. Against Cincinnati, Atlanta got three hits from Ronald Acuna Jr. (three RBI) while Austin Riley (run) and Eddie Rosario (two runs, RBI) each added a pair in the win. Rosario’s solo homer, his first of the season, came in the eighth inning and broke a 4-4 tie to give the Braves the victory. Spencer Strider didn’t factor in the decision as he threw five innings, allowing three runs on four hits with two walks and nine strikeouts, before departing. Kirby Yates (1-0) earned the win with a scoreless eighth, allowing no hits with one walk and one strikeout, while A.J. Minter tossed a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out one, for his second save.
Charlie Morton takes the ball for the Braves as he makes his third start of the season in this contest. He comes in 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA, a 1.935 WHIP, five walks and seven strikeouts over 10.1 innings of work on the year. Morton took the loss in his last start, which came against the Padres at home Saturday. He threw five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts in a game the Braves dropped 4-1. Morton makes his fifth career start against the Royals in this contest. He is 1-2 with a 4.44 ERA, a 1.192 WHIP, six walks and 25 strikeouts over 24.1 innings of work. Morton is 1-1 with a 4.19 ERA, a 1.138 WHIP, six walks and 22 strikeouts over 19.1 innings in three career starts at Kauffman Stadium.