The 2026 MLB season is finally here! MLB Opening Night is on Wednesday with the Yankees and Giants squaring off in a Netflix exclusive broadcast. The majority of the league will play its first game on Thursday, but the Atlanta Braves begin their 2026 season on Friday against the Kansas City Royals.
After a disappointing 2025 season led to the Braves missing the playoffs, it’s time to turn the page. Atlanta added Robert Suarez, Mike Yastrzemski, and Joel Payamps as the main additions this offseason. The Braves also extended Chris Sale and were able to retain the likes of Raisel Iglesias, Tyler Kinley, and Ha-Seong Kim.
With the new season comes new predictions, and it’s time to get into five bold predictions for the Atlanta Braves ahead of the 2026 season.
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Chris Sale Finishes Top-5 in NL Cy Young Voting
Chris Sale will be the ace for the Braves in 2026.
This isn’t exactly that bold of a prediction, but it hinges on Chris Sale being able to stay healthy for 23-30 starts this season. He would have to qualify, but if he does, it’s hard to think there will be five other NL starters who have a more productive season than Sale.
With all the injuries in the starting rotation to start the year, Chris Sale understands that he has to lead the pitching staff for pretty much the entire season.
Austin Riley, Matt Olson Finish with 30+ Home Runs
Austin Riley is the player who is more likely to hold this prediction back. He’s finished the last two seasons with 110 and 102 total games played, which has limited him to 19 and 16 home runs in 2024 and 2025.
However, he’s had such a strong spring and looks to be healthy after going through abdominal surgery in the offseason. Matt Olson, who will likely play all 162 games this season, should have no issue hitting 30+ home runs.
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Braves Trade Sean Murphy Before MLB Trade Deadline
Sean Murphy is still rehabbing from hip surgery in the offseason, and he will be sidelined to start the season. Murphy has failed to hit over .200 and appear in 100+ games in each of the last two seasons.
The Braves added Jonah Heim this offseason, and if he’s semi-productive while Murphy is still out, expect Sean Murphy’s name to be exposed in trade speculation throughout the season. Atlanta is likely going to be in a position in July where they will need to pull off a big-time trade, and moving on from Sean Murphy might be the right move.
Ronald Acuña Jr. Posts 40/40 Season
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA РAPRIL 22: Ronald Acu̱a Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after hitting a single to lead off the first inning at Truist Park on April 22, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Perhaps the most important piece on the entire Braves roster is Ronald Acuña Jr., who appears to be fully healthy heading into the 2026 season. Injuries have limited his ability to steal bases in each of the last two seasons, but his power stroke has not wavered.
This bold prediction hinges on how many times Acuña Jr. takes off on the bases, which is crazy because hitting 40 home runs is no easy task in MLB, but Acuña Jr hit 21 big flies last year in just 95 games.
The Atlanta Braves Will Advance to the NLCS
Despite all the bad injury news to start the season, the Braves might have the second-best lineup in the National League behind the Dodgers, and that strength will propel Atlanta to the NLCS.
Will they win the NL East? That isn’t a part of the bold prediction, but the Atlanta Braves will somehow find a way to return to the Championship Series with a chance to return to the Fall Classic.
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