Braves Preview: Atlanta open up three game set against Padres with Fried on the mound
The Atlanta Braves are riding high at the moment as they are currently riding a six game win streak after sweeping the Reds and Royals. At 12-4, the Braves have had an excellent start to the 2023 season despite some high profile injuries. Starting today, the Braves have a chance to both avenge their only real series blemish on the season AND continue to get healthy as Max Fried returns from the injured list to take the mound against the only team to take a series from the Braves so far this year, the San Diego Padres.
The Braves lost their home series against the Padres 3-1 and now have to try their chances against them on the road. San Diego has lost two straight series against the Mets and Brewers after that fateful series in Atlanta. Here's hoping the Braves can continue that trend.
Probable Starters: Max Fried vs. Ryan Weathers
The Braves will have Max Fried on the mound for the first game of the three game set and it will be his first game back from the injured list after hurting his hamstring on Opening Day. Fun fact, Max Fried started his pro career with the Padres when they drafted him 7th overall before the Braves snagged him in the deal that sent Justin Upton to the Padres as a part of the Braves' massive rebuild.
The Padres don't have a ton of experience against Fried with the notable exception of Juan Soto who is hitting .364 in 22 at-bats against Max. Manny Machado does have a homer off of Fried in his career, but it is the only hit that he has against him.
For the Padres, they have Ryan Weathers listed as their starter. In two starts this year, Weathers has gone five innings in each of them and has posted a 2.70 ERA so far. While he is off to a good start, he hasn't been striking out a bunch of guys and he is really only up with the club because of the injury to Joe Musgrove. Last year in the minors, his ERA was almost 7 and he had issues with the home run ball. Only three Braves have any plate appearances against Weathers and they only had one plate appearance each (Austin Riley and Eddie Rosario each do have hits against him, though).
How to watch Braves vs. Padres
Date/Time/Location: 4/17/23 at 9:40 PM EST at Petco Park
TV: Bally Sports South
Radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan