After a very successful 5-1 road trip to start the 2023 season, the Atlanta Braves head back to Truist Park to take on the San Diego Padres for their home opener. The Padres have had a less impressive start to their season as they went 3-3, but make no mistake...this is a loaded San Diego roster and a very tough test for the Braves this early on in the season.
Braves vs. Padres pitching matchup
For the Atlanta Braves, Spencer Strider takes the mound and he is coming off a strong first start of the season where he went six innings and struck out nine despite not having the best command of his impressive stuff. The Padres' lineup has very limited experience against Strider with Juan Soto and Nelson Cruz each topping the list with four at-bats against the flame-throwing righthander. Lefties Soto and Jake Cronenworth should, in theory, be the toughest tests for Strider, although if Spencer is able to break off some of the same changeups he used in his first start, he should do pretty well.
On the Padres' side, they are rolling out Blake Snell against Atlanta who struck out nine batters in his 2023 season debut, but also gave up three runs and went less than five innings against the Colorado Rockies who, well, shouldn't be any good this year. There isn't a ton of experience against Snell in the Braves' lineup either, although Kevin Pillar is a .381 career hitter against Snell in 21 at-bats and Ronald Acuna Jr., Ehire Adrianza, and Marcell Ozuna have each homered off of the lefthander.
How to watch the Braves home opener against the Padres
Date and time: 4/6 at 720 PM EST at Truist Park
TV: Braves feed - Bally Sports Southeast, National - MLB TV
Radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan