The May 24, 2025 matchup between the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park brings together two National League clubs trending in opposite directions, with the Padres entering the contest at 28–21 and building momentum in the NL West, while the Braves look to snap a rough patch that’s dropped them to 24–26 in the NL East. San Diego has won four of its last five games and brings a balanced lineup and quietly effective rotation to the table, led by the dynamic bat of Fernando Tatis Jr., who is hitting .316 and providing a mix of power, speed, and elite defense in right field. One of the key complementary bats has been Gavin Sheets, who has found a groove on the road with a .317 average and a .919 OPS, giving the Padres unexpected production and helping lengthen a lineup that also includes Jurickson Profar and Ha-Seong Kim. On the mound, Michael King is expected to start and has provided consistency in the middle of the rotation, often working deep into games and doing a good job limiting hard contact while inducing ground balls with his sinker-slider mix. The Padres’ bullpen has been a major strength during their recent run, frequently slamming the door late with dependable arms like Robert Suarez and Wandy Peralta delivering in high-leverage spots.

Meanwhile, the Braves are trying to find their footing after an inconsistent stretch that has seen their offense go quiet and their pitching staff struggle to string together quality starts. Matt Olson has been a bright spot with 11 home runs, and Michael Harris II leads the team with 29 RBIs, but the absence of consistent on-base threats and slumping production from several veterans has left the lineup looking more top-heavy than in years past. Atlanta will send Grant Holmes to the mound, and while he’s flashed potential, he’s still unproven at the major league level and will need to be sharp to keep the Padres’ offense from jumping on him early. The Braves bullpen has been taxed lately and has shown some cracks, so Holmes giving them five or six competitive innings will be key to any hopes of securing a win. Defensively, both teams have been solid, but San Diego has the edge in run prevention thanks to better infield play and a more reliable outfield alignment. The Padres have covered the spread in 60% of the last five matchups between these two teams, and they’re also outperforming Atlanta in overall ATS records this season (28–21 to 22–28), reflecting their stronger consistency and ability to win—and win by margin. For the Braves, this game is critical not just for standings but for confidence, as another loss could deepen their slide and create a steeper climb back into contention in the NL East. For San Diego, it’s another opportunity to capitalize on a struggling opponent and bank an important win in what’s shaping up to be a tightly contested NL West. If King pitches to his strengths and the offense gets to Holmes early, the Padres have a clear path to extend their momentum and keep the Braves on the defensive.