Braves-Padres preview: Ronald Acuña Jr. returns, Chris Sale looks to stay dominant

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The Atlanta Braves are about to get a lot more interesting.

Sure, they had a rocky start. Opening the season 0-7 is not how any team wants to begin. But with the return of starting pitcher Spencer Strider and 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., this team is on the brink of catching fire and coasting through summer as a winning ballclub.

That could all start in a three-game set against the San Diego Padres, beginning Friday. The game will be broadcast live on Gray Media.

Here’s what to know going into the weekend:

Braves-Padres pitching probables

Friday, 7:15 p.m. – LHP Chris Sale vs. RHP Nick Pivetta

Saturday, 4:10 p.m. – RHP Grant Holmes vs. RHP Michael King

Sunday, 4:10 p.m. – RHP Spencer Schwellenbach vs. RHP Dylan Cease

Chris Sale, Grant Holmes and Spencer Schwellenbach are getting the nod in Atlanta’s three-game set against San Diego. As for the Padres, right-handers Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Dylan Cease will take the mound.

Sale has been remarkable for Atlanta throughout the past couple of weeks. In his last five starts, Sale has a 1.72 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 31.1 innings.

He leads a rotation that now has a healthy Strider (0-2, 5.79 ERA) along with Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver and Grant Holmes. Bryce Elder was the odd man out when sculpting the rotation. Elder had a 3.10 ERA in 29 innings dating back to April 23 before he was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on May 15.

All three Padres righties have the stuff to fool a seemingly mediocre Braves team. However, Cease hasn’t been what he’s been in the past. So far this season, Cease has a 4.50 ERA in 54 innings.

Nonetheless, all eyes will be on one Braves superstar to see how he responds to San Diego’s array of right-handers.

Braves and Padres hitters to watch

Braves: Well, that’s an easy one. Ronald Acuña Jr.! The 27-year-old is set to make his season debut on Friday against San Diego, and it’ll certainly be a welcome one. Acuña hit .417 with a 1.465 OPS and a solo home run in five rehab games in Triple-A. He had seven walks in 19 plate appearances.

Besides Acuña, one standout among the Braves’ struggling lineup is 24-year-old Drake Baldwin. The rookie is hitting .337 with five home runs and 15 RBIs through 30 games, making a solid case alongside right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver for NL Rookie of the Year. Baldwin is currently platooning behind the plate with Sean Murphy, but the team keeps finding ways to slot him into the lineup. Rightfully so.

Padres: The fun guys to watch are obviously Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado and Luis Arraez. All pack a punch at the top of a well-rounded lineup. However, the Padres have lost six in a row. The team may have all the power in the world, but it’ll need to get past a recently dominant southpaw in Sale and an on-the-rise right-hander in Schwellenbach this weekend.

How to watch Braves on Gray

Gray Media will simulcast these 15 Atlanta Braves games throughout the Southeast this season.

Fans can watch the Braves on Gray by tuning into PeachtreeTV, Atlanta’s CW Network. Fans can also watch games on YouTube TV, over the air on channel 17.1 and on channel 17 on Dish Network and DirecTV and channel 7 on Xfinity and Spectrum.

If you are in another market outside of Atlanta, you can find your channel at BravesOnGray.com.