The San Diego Padres have known for nearly a week that they would be hosting the National League Wild Card Series. They took advantage of the time to rest, set their rotation, and stay fresh. On the other hand, the Atlanta Braves had a more complicated path to reach this point. Their pitching plans have been disrupted, and they now have to travel across the country for a playoff game just 24 hours after clinching their spot.
Despite these challenges, both teams are ready to compete in postseason baseball. Padres third baseman Manny Machado acknowledged that playing a doubleheader before the playoffs doesn’t benefit the Braves but emphasized that once the game starts, both teams will be competing.
The Braves may be without Sale for this series due to injury concerns and were taxed during their doubleheader before taking a late-night flight to San Diego. However, first baseman Matt Olson embraces the underdog role and believes there will be enough adrenaline for everyone in playoff baseball.
For Tuesday’s Game 1, it is scheduled at 8:38 ET/5:38 PT and will be broadcast on ESPN. The game will also be available in Spanish on ESPN Deportes and through various streaming platforms.
As for starting pitchers, the Braves are yet to decide between Ian Anderson, AJ Smith-Shawver, or Bryce Elder from Triple-A Gwinnett. The Padres have chosen Michael King as their Game 1 starter based on his impressive performance during the second half of the season.
Both teams have dealt with injuries throughout this season but still possess talented players who can make an impact in this series.
In terms of bullpen usage after starters exit the game, both teams have reliable relievers ready to step up. The Braves might face some challenges if closer Raisel Iglesias and setup man Joe Jiménez are unavailable due to their appearances in Monday’s doubleheader.
it promises to be an exciting matchup between two competitive teams with different paths leading them here.
