17 April - Braves vs. Padres Game Preview (9:40 PM ET)

Max Fried is back on the bump tonight after a short IL stint to start his 2023 campaign. Fried, 29, hurt his hamstring in the middle of the 4th on opening day vs the Nationals, but is back tonight to face a struggling Padres lineup. Braves come into tonight’s game hot, winners of 6 in a row, after sweeping both the Reds and the Royals. The Padres on the other hand have been struggling to start the year. Since taking three of four from this Braves team, they have lost 5 of their last 9, only averaging a little over 2 runs per contest.

Braves come into this series looking for revenge and there could not be a better time to have their ace back and healthy. Fried in the past has been pretty good against the Padres and the NL west as a whole. Fried faced the NL west 7 times last year and posted a 1.74 ERA in those spots, allowing the Braves to go 6-1 vs the tough division out west. Fried against the Padres, through a complete game shutout not too long ago in that magical 2021 campaign which is when put his face on the map as one of the top lefties in the league. What helps Fried even more tonight is just how bad this Padres lineup has been over the past 5 games, as a team batting .166 over that span while only putting up just over 3 runs per game.

The man who will try to slow down this hot Atlanta Braves tonight is the young lefty in Ryan Weathers. Weathers, 23, making his 3rd start of the season but only his 22nd in his young career. Weathers, has pitched well to start 2023, pitching 10 innings of work and only allowing 3 earned, allowing the Padres to win both of those starts. Today Weathers must face possibly the hottest team in baseball, in the Atlanta Braves, who are hitting left-handed pitchers at an alarming rate to start the 2023 season. Braves hitters when facing left-handed pitchers, have a .331 BA with a .408 OBP and .471 slugging percentage and are averaging close to 7 runs scored per contest during this impressive 6 game winning streak.

Tonight, we have a team who is hot and getting their ace back fully rested vs a team who cannot put barrel to ball at the right times so far this season. I am backing the Braves tonight to get off to a decent lead against the young lefty, and for Fried to have his first real complete start of his 2023 season.

Adam's (@GoGetEm_Sports) Pick:

Atlanta Braves -1 (-130)

“Sugar House Sportsbook”

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