The Braves lost on Sunday, but there is some good news.
The Atlanta Braves were defeated 4-1 by the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. Atlanta still won the series 2-1, however. Additionally, Sunday's game saw some encouraging play. Mike Yastrzemski, who was signed during the offseason, went 2-4 with a double.
Yastrzemski is now 4-8 through two games played with Atlanta. He has one RBI as well. The Braves outfielder is performing well, and he is a player who can help the team in a crucial manner this season.
Braves Need Mike Yastrzemski
It is no secret that the Braves have dealt with injury concerns over the years. Depth is especially important for this ball club. If Yastrzemski can stay healthy and make an all-around impact for the team, the Braves wil benefit in a big way.
Yastrzemski made his MLB debut in 2019 with the San Francisco Giants. He enjoyed some good seasons in San Francisco and even finished eighth in National League MVP voting in 2020. After a strong start to his Giants career, Yastrzemski began to see more inconsistent overall results.
For the most part, he has still offered a respectable amount of power. Yastrzemski's career-high in home runs is 21, while he has hit at least 15 homers in each of his big league seasons aside from the shortened 2020 campaign.
He spent the 2025 season with the Giants and Kansas City Royals. Yastrzemski ultimately turned in a slash line of .233/.333/.403 across 146 total games played. He added 17 home runs.
The Braves do not need Yastrzemski to be a superstar. Sure, they would not complain if he had an All-Star season, but Atlanta simply needs him to make an impact. The Braves would not mind if Yastrzemski hit 15-20 home runs and hit around .250.
Atlanta's 2026 expectations have been limited by a number of injuries, especially in the starting rotation. The team added necessary depth during the offseason, however. The Braves may be able to upset expectations and win more games than many think they will.
It is worth mentioning that Atlanta plays in a talented National League East division. The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets both have legitimate chances of winning the division. Most people around the MLB world likely have more confidence in Philadelphia and New York than Atlanta.
If Mike Yastrzemski enjoys a good season, though, the Braves' chances of seriously competing in the NL East will only increase.
The Braves' next game following their series with the Royals is on Monday night against the Athletics.