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Braves Aim to Level Series Against Padres in Tuesday Matchup
The Atlanta Braves will attempt to tie their playoff series against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night at Petco Park at 9:40 p.m. EDT after losing the opener 1-0. Rookie JR Ritchie will start for Atlanta against a Padres rotation featuring Wandy Peralta and Griffin Canning, with both teams dealing with significant injury concerns.



Quick Facts
Who
Atlanta Braves
What
NL series game between Braves and Padres
When
Tuesday, June 24, 2026
Where
Petco Park
- NL series game between Braves and Padres
- Braves attempt to level series after 1-0 loss
- Series opener was a low-scoring pitching duel
- Padres using opener strategy with Peralta followed by Canning
- Multiple players on both teams on injured list
The Atlanta Braves (48-29, first in NL East) will attempt to even their series against the San Diego Padres (40-37, second in NL West) on Tuesday night at Petco Park following a 1-0 loss in Monday's opener. The game is scheduled for 9:40 p.m. EDT and represents the second meeting between the teams this season.
The Braves will start rookie pitcher JR Ritchie (1-2, 4.54 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 30 strikeouts) on the mound, while the Padres are expected to deploy an opener strategy, beginning with Wandy Peralta before transitioning to Griffin Canning (1-5, 6.64 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 41 strikeouts). Atlanta's offense struggled in the series opener and will need to improve, though the team boasts a strong 36-10 record in games where they record eight or more hits. The Braves have gone 24-15 in road games this season.
Both teams have experienced recent offensive struggles. Over their last 10 games, the Braves are 3-7 with a .219 batting average and have been outscored by 19 runs, while the Padres sit at 5-5 with a .228 batting average. Despite the slow stretch, the Padres have outscored opponents by six runs over that span. Matt Olson leads the Braves with 20 home runs and a .535 slugging percentage, while Fernando Tatis Jr. paces the Padres with a .284 batting average.
Both teams are dealing with significant injury concerns. The Braves have placed Ronald Acuña Jr. on the 10-day IL with a hamstring injury, and are without key players including Spencer Strider and Sean Murphy on 60-day assignments due to elbow and finger injuries respectively. The Padres face even more roster depletion, with 10 players on the injured list, including Joe Musgrove, Nick Pivetta, and Ramon Laureano all sidelined on 60-day assignments.
The betting line favors Atlanta at -113, with the Padres at -109. The over/under for the game is set at 8 runs, suggesting expectations for another low-scoring affair following Monday's pitcher-dominated contest.
Topics
Why This Matters
This playoff matchup is crucial for Atlanta's postseason aspirations—they must equalize the series immediately after a disappointing Game 1 shutout loss. With key players like Ronald Acuña Jr. sidelined and pitching matchups heavily favoring defensive play, the outcome will significantly impact momentum and roster management strategy for both franchises heading into Game 3.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 23, 2026
WireSeries opener at San Diego, Padres defeat Braves 1-0
Jun 24, 2026
WireGame 2 of series scheduled at Petco Park, Braves vs Padres, 9:40 p.m. EDT