Kansas City Royals closer Carlos Estevez led MLB with 42 saves out of 48 opportunities last season, but he wasn’t that type of pitcher on Saturday. The 33-year-old entered the bottom of the ninth inning with a 2-0 lead against the Atlanta Braves and gave up six runs after getting just one out.
Estevez started the frame by walking catcher Drake Baldwin before giving up a single to first baseman Matt Olson, putting runners on the corners with no outs. The two-time All-Star then got third baseman Austin Riley to pop out to second, but left fielder Mike Yastrzemski followed up with an RBI single to center.
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The Braves had runners on the corners again, but the Royals just needed a double play to escape with a 2-1 win. That didn’t happen, as Estevez walked second baseman Ozzie Albies before center fielder Michael Harris II hit an RBI infield single to tie the game.
That brought up designated hitter Dominic Smith, who ended the night with a 386-foot grand slam to right center.
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7). © Mady Mertens-Imagn Images
There’s no reason to worry about a baseball team after two games, but Kansas City’s start to the 2026 campaign is a reminder of how unforgiving the sport is. Royals players like star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., third baseman Maikel Garcia, first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, catcher Salvador Perez, and outfielder Jac Caglianone made an impact in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), but that doesn’t matter now.
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Although the Royals have been outscored 12-2 in their two contests against the Braves, their pitching staff did its job before Estevez came in on Saturday. Starter Michael Wacha, who played for Team USA in the WBC, allowed just three hits with seven strikeouts and one walk over six shutout innings. Offseason acquisition Matt Strahm then tossed a scoreless seventh before setup man Lucas Erceg pitched a scoreless eighth.
Kansas City’s offense also showed signs of life after getting shut out in Friday’s 6-0 Opening Day loss. Perez opened the scoring with a 390-foot solo homer to left center in the seventh, and Caglianone finished 2-for-3 with a double.
The Royals will try to get their first win of the season in a road rematch with the Braves on Sunday. Right-hander Seth Lugo, who pitched for Team Puerto Rico in the WBC, will face Atlanta right-hander Grant Holmes. The game will start at 1:35 p.m. ET.