Braves-Royals Matchup: Injury Concerns and Playoff Hopes The Atlanta Braves enter the 2025 season with a mix of optimism and caution, as they aim to rebound from a 86-win campaign last year that marked their first losing season since 2017. Manager Walt Weiss faces challenges from the outset, with key players like catcher Sean Murphy, infielder Ha-Seong Kim, and pitchers Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Joe Jiménez already sidelined. Despite these setbacks, PECOTA projects the team for 89 wins, highlighting their potential with a core of power hitters and reliable pitching. The Braves’ offense, which ranked middle of the pack in runs scored last season, showed improvement in the second half. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley, both sidelined by injuries in 2024, are expected to contribute significantly. Matt Olson, who posted a 11th-place finish in National League fWAR and hit 29 home runs, remains a key offensive threat. Michael Harris II’s 20/20 season (20 homers, 20 steals) in 2024 further underscores the team’s depth. The roster also includes additions like Mike Yastrzemski, a former Royals outfielder who excelled in 2024. Yastrzemski will need to replace Marcell Ozuna, who moved to the Pirates, and Jurickson Profar, suspended for a year due to PED violations. Shortstop duties will fall to Mauricio Dubón, a slick-fielding player, while non-roster invitees Dominic Smith and Kyle Farmer bolster the lineup. On the pitching side, the Braves face significant injury concerns. Despite a 2024 Cy Young Award for Chris Sale, the staff has struggled with setbacks. Sale, 36, is healthy for Opening Day and has a strong history against the Royals, with a 2.66 ERA in 189.2 innings.#atlanta_braves #walt_weiss #sean_murphy #ha_seong_kim #spencer_strider
