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The Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves will meet today to begin the final three-game set of the MLB regular season. These two teams are in different leagues but are both fighting for wild-card berths.
The Royals currently hold one but will need to keep winning to avoid sliding down and allowing other playoff hopefuls to take their spot. The Braves are currently one game back of the final NL wild card with five games remaining thanks to a couple of rainouts.
Kansas City rebounded from an absolute freefall to win three in a row. As it stands, they're still 3-7 in their last 10 and are currently tied for the second wild card with the Detroit Tigers.
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The Atlanta Braves are 86-71, which leaves them one game back of the final wild card spot. They're 6-4 in their last 10 games and have also won three in a row, so something is going to have to give today.
Royals vs. Braves: Players to watch
Starting pitchers
Brady Singer vs. Max Fried
Brady Singer has a 1.28 WHIP and 165 strikeouts in 173.2 innings pitched. He is 9-12 with 165 SO.
Last Start: 5.1 innings pitched, seven hits, six earned runs, one walk, and six strikeouts.
Career vs. Braves: 0-1 with five innings pitched, a 14.40 ERA, and eight strikeouts in one appearance.
Max Fried has a 1.20 WHIP and 157 strikeouts in 165.2 innings pitched. He's 10-10 with a 3.42 ERA.
Last Start: Six innings pitched, five hits, one earned run, one walk, and six strikeouts.
Career vs. Royals: N/A.
Must-watch hitters
Royals
Bobby Witt Jr. is closing in on the AL batting title, so he's a player to watch. Additionally, Salvador Perez and Maikel Garcia are two players to keep an eye on during this series.
Braves
While the Braves are really banged up and missing some offensive firepower, they still have players to watch out for. Marcell Ozuna is having a career year and Michael Harris II has been hot lately.
Royals vs. Braves: Betting odds
Royals vs. Braves: Expert predictions
The Royals and Braves both need wins, but the Braves are certainly more desperate at this point. Their season will come down to Monday's doubleheader with the New York Mets, but they'd like to be in pole position by then and not rely on performing in a doubleheader.
The Royals are healthier and this is an even matchup, but look for the Braves to keep winning at home and earn a tight victory on the back of an excellent Fried start.
Run Line: Under 1.5
Totals: Under 7.5
Prediction: Braves 4, Royals 3
