A potential NLCS preview begins Thursday night when the San Diego Padres (3-3, 0-0 away) visit the Atlanta Braves (5-1, 0-0 home). These are two of the favorites to get out of the National League this season and it should be a fun measuring stick for both fan bases. Below is my MLB pick for San Diego vs Atlanta.
San Diego Padres vs Atlanta Braves Betting Pick
The Pick: Atlanta Braves -168 @ BetAnySports
This game will be played at Truist Park at 7:20 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
Why Bet The Atlanta Braves:
✅ This is Atlanta’s season opener, and they are 14-2 in their last 16 games played at home.
✅ At home, the Braves have beaten San Diego in 14 of their last 20 meetings.
✅ The Padres have struggled with the Braves recently as they are just 5-10 in their 15 matchups.
The San Diego Padres are Looking for Momentum
San Diego enters this one after a day off and will look to rebound from their 8-6 home loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Prior to the Tuesday loss, the Padres were on a three game-winning streak, and they have now split their first two series of the year.
The Padres bats have yet to wake up this season, as they are batting just .234, but they have managed to score 25 runs on just 44 hits. Pitching has also been subpar to start the season, with a team ERA near five, but that will come down with a larger sample size.
Blake Snell is making his second start of the season and will look to bounce back from his first start that saw him allow three earned runs in 4.1 innings in a loss.
Atlanta Braves Playing Like One of the Best Teams in MLB
Atlanta is looking like one of the best teams in baseball and enter this four-game series on the back of a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Braves pitching was fantastic all series as they gave up just seven total runs and just three in the final two games.
The Atlanta bats have been hot to start the year as they are batting .280 and have scored 32 runs off 59 hits. Pitching has also come out red hot as they have a team ERA of 2.38.
Spencer Strider will take the mound for the second time this season and will look to mirror his first start that saw him throw six scoreless innings.
