San Diego Padres @ Atlanta Braves 7:15pm EST

SD Padres ML +105 (1u)

We are switching course from last night and backing the Padres here. We thought Max Fried would get some run support last night, but the Braves are not hot in the batter’s box right now. The Padres amassed 13 hits last night, which is something it feels like they could do every game with the lineup that they have. The Braves are 7-6 in the month of May while the Padres are 8-6 including getting swept at home by the Rockies. The Padres have one of the best offenses in the MLB, with the 3rd most hits, 5th best batting average and 7th most runs. The Padres also have the best road average in the MLB at .308 and the 3rd best against right handed pitchers at .272. The Braves come into this matchup reeling a bit offensively, as they have fallen out of the top 10 in most every category during their recent slump. They have the 7th highest average, but they were up there in the top 3 for awhile. They have not been able to string together hits at all.

Let’s take a look at today’s pitching matchup:

(SD) Yu Darvish

8 G / 3-1 / 2.43 ERA / 40.2 IP / 37 SO / 0.98 WHIP

(ATL) Bryce Elder

4 G / 1-1 / 4.79 ERA / 20.2 IP / 16 SO / 1.65 WHIP

Yu Darvish has been lights out for the Padres, with no runs allowed in his last 3 starts and only 8 hits combined. The Padres have won his last 5 starts, including 2 over the Dodgers and Padres. The Braves are batting .163 in 95 at bats against Darvish and we will look for that to continue today as the Braves are batting just .219 during the month of May, far below their .254 average.

Bryce Elder has been a little different story for the Braves this season, as his 4.79 ERA and 1.65 WHIP suggest he is capable of giving up runs to men on base. He has 12 runs allowed in his last 3 starts, with 7 coming against a great hitting team in the Dodgers. The Padres are a lot like the Dodgers with their offensive firepower, and we like th to get after Elder and provide some run support for Yu Darvish.