Atlanta Braves (0-0) at San Diego Padres (0-0)
Game 1:
Date: March 27th
Time: 1:10 PM PDT
Broadcast: FanDuel Sports South/Padres.TV
Game 2:
Date: March 28th
Time: 6:40 PM PDT
Broadcast: FanDuel Sports South/Padres.TV
Game 3:
Date: March 29th
Time: 4:15 PM PDT
Broadcast: Fox
Game 4:
Date: March 30th
Time: 4:10 PM PDT
Broadcast: ESPN
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Probable Starters:
Game 1: Chris Sale (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Michael King (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Sale gets the ball in game one for the Braves. Sale went 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA, a 2.09 FIP, a 1.01 WHIP, and an 11.4 K/9 en route to a Cy Young in his first season with Atlanta. King goes for the Padres. He went 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA, a 3.33 FIP, a 1.19 WHIP, and a 10.4 K/9.
Game 2: Reynaldo Lopez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Dylan Cease (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
In game two, the Braves will have Lopez on the mound. Lopez went 8-5 last season with a 1.99 ERA, a 2.92 FIP, a 1.11 WHIP, and a 9.8 K/9. The Padres will counter with Dylan Cease in game two. In his first season with the Padres, Cease went 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA, a 3.10 FIP, a 1.17 WHIP, and a 10.6 K/9.
Game 3: Spencer Schwellenbach (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Nick Pivetta (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
In game three, the Braves will have Schwellenbach on the mound. He went 8-7 with a 3.35 ERA, a 3.29 FIP, a 1.04 WHIP, and a 9.2 K/9. The Padres will have Pivetta on the mound in game three, making his Padres debut. He went 6-12 with the Red Sox last season, posting a 4.14 ERA, a 4.07 FIP, a 1.13 WHIP, and a 10.6 K/9.
Game 4: AJ Smith-Shawver (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Randy Vasquez (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Smith-Shawver gets the finale. He made one start in 2024, going 4.1 shutout innings. He gave up three hits, walked two, and struck out four. Vasquez goes for the Padres. He went 4-7 with a 4.87 ERA, a 4.70 FIP, a 1.51 WHIP, and a 5.7 K/9.
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Players to Watch:
Atlanta Braves
Marcell Ozuna played in 162 games last year for the Braves. He had a 4.3 WAR in the year. Ozuna had a .302 batting average and a .925 OPS last season. He added 31 doubles, 39 home runs, and 104 RBIs on the year. In seven games last year against the Padres, Ozuna hit .385 with four home runs, four RBIs, and scored six runs.
San Diego Padres
Manny Machado played in 152 games last year for the Padres. He recorded a 3.2 WAR over those games played last year. Machado finished 2024 with a .275 batting average and a .797 OPS. He hit 30 doubles, 29 home runs, and drove in 105 runners last year. In seven games last year against the Braves Machado had a .370 batting average with one home run, five RBIs, and four runs scored last year.
Next Up:
Atlanta Braves: March 31st-April 2nd at Los Angeles Dodgers
San Diego Padres: March 31st-April 2nd vs Chicago White Sox
