With playoffs at stake, Royals shut out by Braves, 3-0

ATLANTA — The Kansas City Royals ran into a command performance from Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried on Friday night.

Fried was in rare form as his team clung to slim playoff hopes. The Braves’ starting pitcher silenced the Royals across 8 2/3 innings, allowing just three hits and striking out nine as KC fell 3-0 at Truist Park.

With that outcome, the Royals (85-75) were awaiting the results of Friday’s ongoing game between the host Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles. The Royals have a magic number of one game to clinch a spot in the MLB postseason.

One more loss by the Twins would send the Royals back to the playoffs for the first time since they won the 2015 World Series. Another AL Central team, the Detroit Tigers, advanced to the playoffs earlier Friday evening.

In Atlanta, the Braves scored against Royals starting pitcher Brady Singer. In the fourth inning, Braves catcher Sean Murphy hit a two-run homer over the left-field wall.

Murphy now has 10 homers this season. He entered Friday’s game hitting a meager .079 (3 for 38) in September.

Singer allowed two runs in his six innings. He registered five strikeouts and issued three walks.

The Royals had a tough time against Fried in their turns at the plate. The two-time All-Star was dialed in from the first pitch of the night. He retired 10 consecutive batters, including five on strikeouts, to open the game.

Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. collected the team's first hit in the fourth inning. He beat out an infield single to reach base safely. KC had just four baserunners all night as Fried pitched into the ninth inning and picked up his 11th win of the season (11-10).

The Braves improved to 87-71. Atlanta is in a tight race with the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets for the final National League wild-card spots.

The Royals, of course, are also still watching the playoff standings. KC slid a game behind the Detroit Tigers in the American League wild-card race. The Tigers sit in the second wild-card spot, one game ahead of the Royals.

Here are more notable aspects of Friday’s Royals-Braves game:

Smith throws live bullpen Saturday

The Royals will get a closer look at injured reliever Will Smith on Saturday. He is scheduled to face live hitters at Truist Park as he recovers from a bout of low-back spasms.

Smith has been sidelined since Aug. 26. This will be his second live batting practice and he is scheduled to face selected hitters. Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, also recovering from an injury, is slated to hit during Smith’s session.

Pasquantino is sidelined following right-thumb surgery. He also took live batting practice Thursday at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. during the Royals’ three-game series there.

What’s next on the Royals’ schedule?

The Royals continue their final regular-season-ending series against the Braves on Saturday. KC right-handed pitcher Seth Lugo is expected to start the evening game.

Lugo owns a 2.20 ERA in his last five starts. He will make his career-high 33rd start of the season. The Braves had not announced a starter for Saturday’s game as of Friday night.