On Saturday, the San Diego Padres continue their four-game series on the road against the Atlanta Braves.
In the first game of the series on Thursday, the Braves won 4-2. Anibal Sanchez gave up just four hits through seven innings while Ender Inciarte hit a home run and scored a pair of runs to lead the Braves to victory. Sanchez won for the first time in six starts against the Padres. The loss snapped San Diego’s two-game winning streak. The win kept Atlanta 1 ½ games ahead of second place Washington in the National League East. With the win, Atlanta is now 12 games over .500 which they have not been since the end of the 2013 regular season. Braves rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. is out with a knee injury but has an outside chance of returning Sunday.
Eric Hosmer leads San Diego with a .289 batting average and team high 74 hits. Christian Villanueva leads the team in home runs with 15 and RBIs with 36. San Diego has a team batting average of .233, while opposing hitters are averaging .254 at the plate against Padres pitching. On Saturday, the Padres will send Jordan Lyles to the mound. The right-hander this season is 2-3 with an ERA of 4.83, 50 Ks and 18 BBs.
Freddie Freeman leads Atlanta with a .342 batting average and team highs in hits with 89 and RBIs with 48. Ozzie Albies leads the team in home runs with 16. Atlanta has a team batting average of .260, while opposing hitters are averaging .230 at the plate against Braves pitching. On Saturday, the Braves will send Sean Newcomb to the mound. The left-hander this season is 7-2 with an ERA of 2.92, 74 Ks and 35 BBs.
