If you are frantically checking your phone or scrolling through your cable guide to figure out what time does atlanta braves play tonight, I have some news that might be a little bit of a letdown.
They aren't playing. Not tonight. Not tomorrow. Honestly, not for a while.
It is January 18, 2026. While the hunger for Braves baseball is real—especially after the rollercoaster of the last few years—we are currently in the thick of the "dark period" of the MLB calendar. The guys are mostly at home, or in the case of a few players, dealing with some pretty bizarre offseason luck. If you want to see the Braves in a competitive game that actually counts for something, you're looking at a wait of about two months.
I know, it’s a bummer. But even without a game on the schedule tonight, the Braves have managed to stay in the headlines for all the wrong reasons today.
When is the actual next Braves game?
Since there is no game tonight, your eyes should be fixed on the Florida horizon. The Braves report to North Port for spring training very soon.
📖 Related: Heisman Trophy Nominees 2024: The Year the System Almost Broke
The first time you can actually watch them take the field in a jersey is Saturday, February 21, 2026. They'll be facing the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. That game is a road one, but the home opener at CoolToday Park follows immediately after on Sunday, February 22, 2026, against the Minnesota Twins.
Standard start times for these Grapefruit League games are usually 1:05 PM ET.
If you are waiting for the regular season—the games that make your heart rate spike—the wait is a bit longer. The Braves officially open the 2026 season on March 27, 2026, at Truist Park against the Kansas City Royals. It’s going to be a massive weekend in Atlanta, but until then, the stadium is basically a very expensive construction and maintenance site.
The Breaking News You Might Have Missed Today
The reason many people are likely asking about the team today isn't because of a game, but because of a massive injury update that just dropped.
👉 See also: When Was the MLS Founded? The Chaotic Truth About American Soccer's Rebirth
The Braves have had some of the worst injury luck in professional sports lately. Today, Sunday, January 18, the team announced that their big offseason acquisition, shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, is already headed to the shelf. He didn't even make it to February.
Kim signed a $20 million deal to be the answer to the shortstop hole left by Dansby Swanson a couple of years ago. Apparently, he slipped on some ice while back home in Korea. It sounds like a freak accident, but the result is a torn tendon in his middle finger. He had surgery today in Atlanta with Dr. Gary Lourie.
The recovery time? Four to five months.
That means if you were hoping to see him in the lineup on Opening Day, you're out of luck. We probably won't see him in a Braves uniform until June or July. It’s a gut punch for a front office that thought they had finally stabilized the infield.
✨ Don't miss: Navy Notre Dame Football: Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different
How to Follow the Braves During the Offseason
Just because there isn't a game tonight doesn't mean there isn't plenty to track. The Braves have been surprisingly busy under new manager Walt Weiss, who took the reins after Brian Snitker moved into an advisory role.
- International Signings: Just three days ago, the Braves signed 11 international free agents. The "big fish" is Jose Manon, a 17-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic. He’s already ranked as a top-15 international prospect.
- Roster Depth: With Kim out, everyone is looking at Mauricio Dubón. The Braves picked him up from the Astros earlier this winter, and suddenly, that trade looks like a stroke of genius. He’s likely your starting shortstop for the first half of the year.
- Pitching Staff: The rotation is the big question mark. Between Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Reynaldo López, the talent is insane, but the health history is... let's just say "complicated."
Where to watch when they finally do play
When February 21st finally rolls around, don't expect the usual heavy coverage. Spring training broadcasts are a bit hit-or-miss. Usually, Bally Sports South (or whatever the regional sports network is called by then) will carry a handful of games.
For the regular season in 2026, MLB has expanded its reach. You'll find games on:
- Peacock: They have a heavy Sunday slate this year.
- NBC/NBCSN: They are back in the baseball business for 2026.
- Apple TV+: The "Friday Night Baseball" tradition continues.
So, while the answer to "what time does atlanta braves play tonight" is a resounding "they don't," the countdown to Florida is officially under way.
Actionable Next Steps for Braves Fans
Since you can't watch a game tonight, here is how you can actually prepare for the 2026 season right now:
- Check your subscription status: If you’re a cord-cutter, make sure you have access to the RSNs or Peacock before the March 27th opener, as the broadcast landscape for 2026 has shifted significantly with more games moving to streaming.
- Set a calendar alert for February 10: This is when pitchers and catchers report. It’s the first real sign of life and usually when we get the first video clips of Spencer Strider throwing off a mound.
- Monitor the waiver wire: With Ha-Seong Kim out for 4-5 months, Alex Anthopoulos is almost certainly working the phones. Keep an eye on late-January trade rumors; the Braves might not be done adding infield depth.