'It never gets old': Atlanta Braves' Chris Sale eager for Opening Day start vs. Kansas City Royals

The Atlanta Braves will start the new season with a new manager, but with a familiar face atop the rotation when they open on Friday night at home against the Kansas City Royals.

Walt Weiss takes the managerial reins from Brian Snitker, who retired in October after 10 seasons in the role. Snitker, 70, was a popular face who guided the team to the 2021 World Series championship.

Weiss had been the Braves' bench coach since the 2018 season and managed the Colorado Rockies from 2013-16.

A pair of left-handers will start the opener. Atlanta's Chris Sale (7-5, 2.58 ERA in 2025) will make his second straight Opening Day start, this time against Kansas City's Cole Ragans (3-3, 4.67), who will get the nod on Opening Day for the third consecutive year.

Sale pitched six innings in his final spring start against Boston, allowing one run on two hits and two walks, with four strikeouts. He is 13-10 lifetime in 36 appearances against the Royals, with a 2.66 ERA.

"I understand what it is to be an Opening Day starter, and I appreciate that they given me the ability to do that," Sale said.

"It never gets old. It's like Christmas. I appreciate the honor that comes with it, but just excited to get out of here and start the season."

Ragans, an All-Star in 2024, is trying to recover from an injury-plagued 2025 season that saw him end up on the 60-day injured list with a rotator cuff strain.

He pitched 5 1/3 solid innings in his final spring appearance, allowing three runs on seven hits -- with eight strikeouts and two walks -- against Colorado.

"Next one counts," said Ragans, who has faced the Braves just once in his career, giving up four runs and four hits over three innings in 2023.

The Braves are trying to recover from an injury-riddled season that resulted in a 76-86 record and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

It will help that many of the starters who were injured a year ago are healthy again, especially right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr., third baseman Austin Riley and second baseman Ozzie Albies.

However, outfielder Jurickson Profar is suspended for the season after failing a test for performance-enhancing drugs. He also missed the first half of the 2025 season for failing a PED test.

"It's well-documented we need some bounce-backs," Weiss said. "I feel good about our guys. It's not wishful thinking; they've all done it before, so I feel great about that."

Kansas City went 82-80 last year and finished third in the AL Central. The Royals made the playoffs in 2024, the World Series in 2015 and are eager return to the postseason.

"We can't wait for Opening Day," said catcher Salvador Perez, a 15-year veteran who helped Team Venezuela win the World Baseball Classic.

"It's about turning the page and concentrating on helping the Kansas City Royals get back to the playoffs and the World Series. That's the goal. Everything starts right now."

Kansas City features returning standouts Vinnie Pasquantino, a first baseman who is coming off a 32-homer season, and third baseman Maikel Garcia, who combines with shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to create an outstanding left side of the infield.

Atlanta will start the season with pitching questions. Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep and Joey Wentz each had surgery and will miss extended time.

Reynaldo Lopez and Grant Holmes missed substantial time with injuries in 2025. Earlier this week, No. 2 starter Spencer Strider, a 20-game winner in 2023, was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain.

--Field Level Media