The Atlanta Braves will try to pick up the pieces Monday when they wrap up a four-game series against the San Diego Padres with a split doubleheader. Monday’s doubleheader is a result of Saturday’s rainout. Reynaldo López will match up against Dylan Cease in Game 1 while Chris Sale will face Randy Vasquez in the nightcap.
The Braves dropped the first two games of the series in disappointing fashion and have lost three-straight overall to slip five games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East standings. Offensive struggles have plagued Atlanta throughout much of the 2024 season. They have been outscored 19-3 during their three-game losing streak and 12-2 during the first two games against San Diego.
Lopez has been a find for the Braves so far this season and will get things started on Monday. He allowed two hits and struck out four over five scoreless innings in his last start against the Cubs. Lopez exited that game after just 71 pitches due to some back tightness so that will be something to keep an eye on Monday.
The Padres will counter with right-hander Dylan Cease in Game 1. Cease was the subject of trade rumors throughout the offseason and was finally dealt to San Diego. He’s slotted in nicely at the top of the Padres’ rotation posting a 2.45 ERA and a 2.37 FIP through his first nine starts. He allowed three runs and struck out eight over 5 2⁄3 innings in his last start against the Rockies.
Sale will take the ball for Atlanta in Game 2 and will be looking to continue a stretch of dominant starts. Sale was lights out in his last start against the Cubs where he allowed just two hits and struck out nine over seven scoreless innings. He has struck out at least nine hitters in three straight starts and has 34 strikeouts and just two walks over his last four games.
The Padres were originally expected to activate Joe Musgrove to start one of the games in the series, but that won’t happen with Randy Vásquez now penciled in to start the nightcap Monday. Vasquez has struggled through four starts this season with a 6.32 ERA and a 5.19 FIP in just 15 2⁄3 innings. He was tagged for five runs in just 3 2⁄3 innings in his last start against Colorado.
All the pitching in the world isn’t going to matter if the Braves can’t find a way out of their offensive doldrums. Atlanta has three extra-base hits in the series, all doubles, and are 2-for-8 in the series with runners in scoring position. They added 11 more strikeouts in Sunday’s loss and have now struck out 29 times over the first two games of the series.
The Braves are still awaiting the return of Austin Riley to the lineup. Riley took ground balls for the second straight day Sunday and later told reporters that he didn’t feel any soreness in his side. He will progress soon to swinging a bat and will hopefully return sometime during the upcoming road trip. Travis d’Arnaud left Friday’s game after taking a foul ball off his mask. d’Arnaud avoided a concussion and is slated to start the second game of Monday’s doubleheader.
Doubleheader Info
Game 1: Monday, May 20, 12:20 p.m. ET
Game 2: Monday, May 20, 6:20 p.m. ET
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia
TV: Bally Sports Southeast
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan
