Braves vs. Royals Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 14, 2023

April 13, 2023, by Matt Rooney MLB Predictions

The Atlanta Braves (9-4) roll into Friday’s matchup with the Kansas City Royals (4-9) looking to extend a three-game winning streak. The contest starts at 8:10 PM ET on MLB Network with the Braves listed as -157 favorites on the moneyline.

Atlanta’s Charlie Morton gets the start, and he’ll go against Kansas City’s Brady Singer.

Braves vs. Royals Odds

Braves odds to win: -157
Royals odds to win: +135
Spread: Braves -1.5
Total: 9 runs

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Game Time and Information

Date: Friday, April 14, 2023
Time: 8:10 PM ET
TV: MLB Network

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Who Will Win Braves vs. Royals?

Braves and Royals Betting Trends

The Braves are 7-4 in games they were listed as the moneyline favorite (winning 63.6% of those games).

Atlanta has gone 6-1 (winning 85.7% of its games) when playing as moneyline favorites of -157 or shorter.

The Royals have been underdogs in 13 games this season and won four (30.8%) of those contests.

This season, Kansas City has won two of its nine games, or 22.2%, when it’s the underdog by at least +135 on the moneyline.

The Braves have had an over/under set by bookmakers 13 times, and have combined with opponents to go over the total in seven of those games (7-6-0).

So far this season, the Royals and their opponents have hit the over in seven of their 13 games with a total.

Braves Stats & Insights

The Braves are the ninth-highest scoring team in baseball, averaging 4.8 runs per game (63 total).

Atlanta is 11th in baseball with 16 home runs. They average 1.2 per game.

The Braves are sixth in the majors with a .271 batting average.

Atlanta’s 9.5 strikeouts per game are the fifth-most in baseball.

The Braves pitching staff ranks 15th in the majors with a collective 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

Atlanta has a 3.92 team ERA that ranks eighth across all MLB pitching staffs.

Royals Stats & Insights

The Royals have scored 44 runs (just 3.4 per game) this season, which ranks 28th in MLB.

Kansas City ranks 22nd in Major League Baseball with 12 home runs.

The Royals have a team batting average of just .204 this season, which ranks 29th among MLB teams.

Kansas City ranks just 27th in MLB in strikeouts per game with an average of 9.5 whiffs per contest.

The Royals average the 17th-most strikeouts per nine innings (8.7) in the league this season.

Kansas City has the 14th-ranked ERA (4.30) in the majors this season.

Braves Key Players to Watch

Morton (1-1) takes the mound for the Braves to make his third start this season.

Ronald Acuna Jr. leads Atlanta in batting average (.370) this season.

Matt Olson leads Atlanta in home runs (four) and runs batted in (12) this season while batting .294.

Austin Riley has collected 16 base hits, an OBP of .448 and a slugging percentage of .511 this season.

Sean Murphy has collected seven hits this season and has an OBP of .405. He’s slugging .438 on the year.

Royals Key Players to Watch

Singer will get the start for the Royals, his third of the season.

Vinnie Pasquantino paces the Royals with two home runs while putting up a team-best batting average of .293.

Bobby Witt Jr.’s two home runs and six RBI both pace his team.

Salvador Perez has a team-high two home runs and six runs batted in.

Nicky Lopez is hitting .208 with two doubles, a triple and four walks.

Braves and Royals Injuries

Braves: Michael Harris II: 10 Day IL (Back), Orlando Arcia: 10 Day IL (Wrist), Collin McHugh: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Max Fried: 15 Day IL (Left hamstring), Raisel Iglesias: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Huascar Ynoa: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Kolby Allard: 60 Day IL (Oblique), Tyler Matzek: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Travis d’Arnaud: 7 Day IL (Concussion)

Royals: Drew Waters: 10 Day IL (Oblique), Daniel Lynch: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Jake Brentz: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Angel Zerpa: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Diego Hernandez: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)