The Braves vs. Padres: A Season of Ups and Downs

In 2024, the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres faced off seven times during the regular season. This series is likely to extend to nine or ten games to decide who advances to the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres dominated this season's meetings, winning five out of the seven games. The Braves had a rough start, scoring only five runs in their first three games. The Padres showcased their strength with a 9-0 shutout win in Game 2, where Jake Cronenworth, Luis Campusano, and Ha-Seong Kim all hit home runs. The Braves scored their lone run on an RBI single by Ozzie Albies. Despite this, the Padres' bullpen kept the Braves from getting shut out completely. Game 4 saw the Braves finally secure a win with a 3-0 score. Chris Sale started strong, and the bullpen supported well. This win helped salvage the series for the Braves, who were still hurting from earlier losses.

The second half of the season brought better performance from the Braves, who won three out of the four remaining games. Spencer Schwellenbach pitched seven innings in the opener, allowing just three hits and one run. Travis d'Arnaud hit two home runs in the final game. Meanwhile, the Padres struggled, hovering around a .500 record and searching for a spark. They didn’t find it against the Braves but eventually turned things around to win 43 out of their last 63 games, securing a postseason spot. The Braves had a tougher second half but managed to stay alive until the final day of the regular season. Heading into this series, the Braves aim to redeem themselves from earlier struggles against the Padres. However, they’ll be missing Chris Sale, who was their key pitcher in the regular season. The Padres are looking to build on their momentum and secure a spot against their rivals in LA.

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