Padres vs Braves predictions
Looking ahead to the Padres’ lineup, there’s plenty to be excited about if you’re a San Diego fan. Manny Machado’s been on a tear this season, and I expect him to keep that hot streak alive against the Braves with a multi-hit night—he’s just been seeing the ball so well lately. Fernando Tatis Jr. is another name to watch; he’s got the pop to leave the yard in any at-bat and should be good for a run scored and maybe a steal if he gets on base. And then there’s Luis Arraez, who quietly sprays singles everywhere and rarely strikes out, which could really mess with Braves pitching. Padres’ starter Dylan Cease might give up a couple of runs, but I think he’ll rack up his fair share of strikeouts before handing it over to the bullpen.
Switching gears to Atlanta, you can almost always pencil Marcell Ozuna in for some fireworks—he’s got the power and the average to make a big impact in the heart of the order. Matt Olson is another guy you have to respect; he can change the game with one swing and I wouldn’t be shocked if he launched one over the Truist Park fences tonight. Ronald Acuna Jr. always brings electricity at the top of the lineup—I see him getting on base a couple of times and making things happen, whether it’s swiping a bag or coming around to score on a double in the gap. For the Braves on the mound, Spencer Schwellenbach is likely to keep things steady and give his team a chance with a solid five innings and a few key punchouts.
So, after sizing up both squads and how their key guys are swinging the bats, my gut feeling is this one tips in favor of Atlanta. Home field advantage at Truist Park shouldn’t be underestimated, and while the Padres’ bats can get hot in a hurry, I just trust the Braves offense to scratch out a few more timely hits. Should be a tight contest, but I’m rolling with the Atlanta Braves to edge out the San Diego Padres in a fun series finale.
