What to watch for in the Atlanta Braves-San Diego Padres series
By Kevin Henry
After registering an impressive road sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, the early litmus test for the Atlanta Braves continues on Thursday when the San Diego Padres visit Truist Park for a four-game series.
The early leaders of the National League East, the Braves enter Thursday’s opener as one of four teams (joining the Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tampa Bay Rays) as pitching staffs to compile an ERA+ of over 200 through their first two series. Atlanta’s 208 in that category has helped propel the Braves to early series wins over the Washington Nationals and Cardinals.
After dropping their first two games of the season to the Colorado Rockies, the Padres enter their first road trip of the season winning three of their last four contests. Xander Bogaerts, signed to a massive deal before the season, has been a catalyst in that surge, leading the Padres with both three homers and seven RBI through his first six games in Southern California.
Pitching matchups for San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta Braves series
Thursday — Blake Snell vs. Spencer Strider
Friday — Nick Martinez vs. TBD
Saturday — Michael Wacha vs. Charlie Morton
Sunday — Seth Lugo vs. Dylan Dodd
What to watch for in San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta Braves series
On the Atlanta side, can the Braves continue the dominance they displayed in St. Louis? Atlanta held the lead at the conclusion of 26 of the 27 innings played at Busch Stadium, so the power flexed at the start of games has been a key to their success. Atlanta is slashing .483/.500/.931 with four homers in the first inning of their first six games. Take that out three innings and Atlanta is starting the game with a .393/.441/.714 slash line with eight homers and 21 runs scored before the start of the fourth inning. That’s a recipe for success.
For San Diego, how will Martinez and Wacha rebound from missteps in their first starts of the season? San Diego starters surrendered 15 earned runs through their first six games, and eight of those came from Martinez and Wacha. Three of the other runs were off Blake Snell, who will get the series-opening nod on Thursday. How San Diego’s first three starting pitchers begin their outings could well determine the direction of the series.
Atlanta has been starting hot, and San Diego’s starters have been cold. Will that trend continue?
This Atlanta's pitcher had a rehab start didn't go according to plans. dark. Next