- What: MLB Wild Card Playoff Game
- When: Tuesday, October 1st
- Who: Atlanta Braves vs. San Diego Padres
- Time: 5:38 p.m. PST
- Where: Petco Park (San Diego, CA)
The San Diego Padres are hosting the Atlanta Braves in their MLB Wild Card matchup on Tuesday. The Braves won the second game of their doubleheader against the Mets yesterday to secure their playoff spot.
However, due to injury, they cannot send likely NL Cy Young Winner Chris Sale on the mound. Meanwhile, the Padres will have Michael King pitching for them. King was excellent this season, with a 13-9 record and a 2.95 ERA.
Atlanta Braves
The Braves lineup has been struggling due to injury. They have had to overcome losing Ronald Acuña Jr., Spencer Strider, and Austin Riley this season. They still have Marcel Ozuna, Matt Olson, and Ozzie Albies.
However, this seems like a terrible spot for the Braves’ pitching after yesterday’s doubleheader against the Mets. AJ Smith-Shawver will pitch for the Braves today.
Game 1. #DigDeepATL pic.twitter.com/TKE89rDxzz
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 1, 2024
Smith-Shawver has only pitched 4 1/3 innings this season. Using him in this matchup against the Padres feels like a desperate move. Considering the Braves horrible injury luck this season, unfortunately, I don’t think they have much of a choice.
It feels like everything is going against the Braves in this one. After they played a doubleheader against the Mets yesterday, they had to hop on a plane and fly cross country to face a rested Padres squad.
San Diego Padres
This game feels like a mismatch. The Padres have played well when King pitches. In his last 13 starts, they have an 8-5 record. Even though King has not faced the Braves this season, he’s been outstanding, posting a 2.07 ERA in 13 starts since July 1st.
The Padres are averaging nearly five runs a game, ranking eighth in the league. They have one of the top batting averages in the league at .263.
They are led by Luis Arraez, who’s been one of the best hitters in baseball. He was the NL batting champion and finished the season batting .318.
Here we go ⏳ pic.twitter.com/Pztqi5oiwr
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 1, 2024
In addition to Arraez, the Padres lineup has been hitting as well as anyone else in baseball. They have star power with Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill and Jurickson Profar.
The Padres won four of seven meetings against the Braves this season. They also have home field in this matchup, so that’s yet another advantage that’s in their favor.
Braves-Padres Best Bet
The Padres are the healthier team and they’re much more rested. I don’t see how you could pick against them in this matchup. The best bet in this one will be the Padres moneyline.
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
