I think it’s safe to say that last night was the absolute low-point for the Braves’ already painfully depressing season.
I’m not talking about a 9-6 loss to an also underwhelming Royals squad, either. I’m talking about yet another injury to Ronald Acuna Jr. (Achilles), who has been the only good thing that Atlanta’s had going in 2025. Now he’s just one more name on a star-studded IL. Woof.
Let’s preview the final game on this interleague series with the help of some odds and lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Braves vs. Royals prediction, preview
As mentioned above, the Braves have a loaded IL at the moment, which is why Joey Wentz has been starting for the club in recent days. You know things are trending poorly when you have a pitcher in your rotation who has already suited up for two other teams so far this season — not to mention the fact that Wentz was a bullpen arm for both the Pirates and the Twins. Across 45.1 innings in 2025, Wentz sports a 5.76 ERA and an 11.2% walk rate. I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve ever wagered money on a positive Wentz outcome and I don’t think I’ll be beginning that hobby on Wednesday.
Granted, it’s not as if the Royals have been an offensive juggernaut against left-handers. For the season as a whole, Kansas City possesses a 79 wRC+ within the split with a .118 ISO that represents the lowest mark in the American League. However, the Royals have been a completely different animal throughout July, hitting 34 home runs and posting a .205 ISO that trails only the Athletics and the Yankees. I think the real Kansas City probably lies somewhere in the middle of these two extremes, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is, without question, the hottest the Royals’ lineup has been in 2025. Good luck, Joey.
That was the positive for Kansas City. Here’s the negative: The team only currently has three starting pitchers on the roster and none are scheduled to work today. Not ideal! Angel Zerpa will open the game, but what will follow the hard-throwing LHP is anyone’s guess. More likely that not, Thomas Hatch will fill the “bulk” role for the Royals this afternoon, with the organization selecting his contract on Monday. Hatch is the only member of Kansas City’s 10-man bullpen that hasn’t worked in the last two days, so at the very least, he’s fresh. In 18 starts in Triple-A this season, Hatch owns a 4.22 ERA and a 52.9% ground ball rate. Hatch hasn’t thrown an MLB pitch since all the way back in 2022 with the Blue Jays.
Braves vs. Royals pick, best bet
Best Bet: Over 9.5 (-103)
Neither of these teams is operating with an ideal pitching situation on Wednesday and the Royals’ bats are red-hot.
