Braves vs. Royals Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Sunday, April 16, 2023

April 16, 2023, by Matt Rooney MLB Predictions

The Atlanta Braves (11-4) will look to complete a series sweep as they take a 2-0 lead into their final matchup against the Kansas City Royals (4-11) at 2:10 PM ET Sunday from Kauffman Stadium. The Braves are favored (-158) by oddsmakers.

Atlanta’s Kyle Wright gets the start, and he’ll go against Kansas City’s Zack Greinke.

Braves vs. Royals Odds

Braves odds to win: -158
Royals odds to win: +136
Spread: Braves -1.5
Total: 9 runs

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Game Time and Information

Date: Sunday, April 16, 2023
Time: 2:10 PM ET
TV: BSKC

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Who Will Win Braves vs. Royals?

Braves and Royals Betting Trends

The Braves have won 69.2% of the games this season when they were the moneyline favorite (9-4).

Atlanta has gone 6-1 when playing as moneyline favorites with odds of -158 or shorter (85.7% winning percentage).

The Royals have been underdogs in 15 games this season and won four (26.7%) of those contests.

Kansas City is 2-6 this season when entering a game as the underdog by +136 or more on the moneyline.

The Braves have played in 15 games with an over/under set, and have combined with their opponents to go over the total nine times (9-6-0).

So far this season, the Royals and their opponents have hit the over in nine of their 15 games with a total.

Braves Stats & Insights

The Braves score the fourth-most runs in baseball (82 total, 5.5 per game).

Atlanta averages 1.5 home runs per game to rank fifth in MLB play with 22 total home runs.

The Braves are fourth in MLB with a .278 batting average.

Atlanta strikes out 9.4 times per game, the No. 25 mark in MLB.

The pitching staff for the Braves has a collective 8.8 K/9, which ranks 15th in MLB.

Atlanta’s 3.73 team ERA ranks sixth among all MLB pitching staffs.

Royals Stats & Insights

The Royals are among the lowest scoring teams in the league, ranking 28th with just 50 total runs (3.3 per game) this season.

Kansas City ranks 26th in Major League Baseball with just 12 home runs as a team.

The Royals rank 29th in MLB with a team batting average of just .211.

Kansas City ranks just 26th in MLB in strikeouts per game with an average of 9.5 whiffs per contest.

The Royals average the 16th-most strikeouts per nine innings (8.7) in the league this season.

Kansas City pitchers have a combined ERA of 5.00 ERA this year, which ranks 23rd in MLB.

Braves Key Players to Watch

The Braves are sending Wright (0-0) to the mound for his second start of the season.

Ronald Acuna Jr. leads Atlanta with a .365 batting average. He’s also hit three homers and has 11 RBI.

Matt Olson leads Atlanta in home runs (five) and runs batted in (15) this season while batting .317.

Sean Murphy is slashing .308/.481/.718 this season for the Braves.

Austin Riley is batting .316 with an OBP of .412 and a slugging percentage of .509 this season.

Royals Key Players to Watch

Greinke (0-3) will take the mound for the Royals, his fourth start of the season.

Bobby Witt Jr. has racked up a team-high batting average of .298, while pacing the Royals in home runs (two).

Vinnie Pasquantino has put his power on display as he paces his team with two home runs.

Salvador Perez leads the Royals with two home runs and seven runs batted in.

Edward Olivares is batting .257 with a double, a triple, a home run and three walks.

Braves and Royals Injuries

Braves: Orlando Arcia: 10 Day IL (Wrist), Michael Harris II: 10 Day IL (Back), 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), Kris Bubic: 15 Day IL (Flexor), Daniel Lynch: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Jake Brentz: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Angel Zerpa: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Diego Hernandez: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)