Atlanta Braves vs. San Diego Padres: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

The Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres close out their four-game season-opening series at Petco Park on Sunday.

It has been a great start to the campaign for the Padres so far, as they have come out on top in each of the first three games, winning 7-4, 4-3 and 1-0.

After their 2-0 series win over the Braves in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs last year, the Padres should be happy to see Atlanta again as they look to complete a season sweep.

Atlanta Braves vs. San Diego Padres betting picks and predictions

San Diego Padres ML (-125)

The Padres are 3-0 and looking to provide their home fans with another victory before they move on to a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians.

The home side have found a way to win each time but it would not be right to say they have dominated the series as the Braves have been in with a chance in each matchup so far.

Game 1 saw the Braves leading 4-3 until the Padres scored four runs in the seventh inning, while Friday's contest was level at 3-3 until Jake Cronenworth blasted the game-winning home run in the eighth.

Saturday night's meeting produced just one run in total with the game scoreless until pinch-hitter Yuli Gurriel's single with two outs in the seventh which clinched the series win.

While the Braves may deserve to have something to show for their efforts so far, that doesn't guarantee them any success in the finale and a fourth Padres win would be no surprise.

The Braves are starting young pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver, who has potential but the 22-year-old might not be in the starting rotation if Spencer Strider was not on the IL and he still has plenty to prove.

Smith-Shawver started the first Wild Card game against the Padres last season, but lasted only 1.1 innings after giving up four hits and three runs including a two-run homer to Fernando Tatis Jr. in the first inning.

He will be opposed by Nick Pivetta of the Padres. The 32-year-old made a fast start to last season with the Boston Red Sox, conceding only one run in his first two appearances before suffering an injury.

Pivetta will be keen to impress for his new club after signing a four-year, $55m contract, and his last outing against the Braves for Boston was excellent as he went seven scoreless innings with only one hit allowed against Atlanta in a 9-0 Red Sox win last June.

With the Atlanta offense having made a slow start to the season, the Padres are capable of completing a sweep.

Under 16.5 hits in the match (-120)

Defenses have increasingly been getting the better of the lineups in this series, with 11 runs, 17 hits and 28 bases in Game 1, while Game 2 brought seven runs, 15 hits and 26 total bases.

Saturday's game saw the pitchers really get on top as Spencer Schwellenbach of the Braves and Randy Vasquez of the Padres each threw six scoreless innings and the contest ended with one run, just nine hits, no home runs and only 11 total bases.

With Pivetta making his debut on the mound for San Diego and Smith-Shawver having shown potential in Spring Training, the hitters could struggle once more in this clash and the odds for under 16.5 hits in the game are attractive.

Jackson Merrill over 1.5 bases (+100)

One batter who could make his mark in the game is Padres' youngster Jackson Merrill. The 21-year-old left-hander drove in four runs in the 7-4 Opening Day win.

The center-fielder had three hits from four at-bats in Game 2, scoring in the third inning, while he had only two at-bats in Saturday's game but still managed one hit and should be keen to strike again while he is in good form.

Merrill has seen Smith-Shawver before, recording one hit against him in last season's Wild Card meeting, and was selected to the All-Star Game in his first MLB season. He is capable of recording two or more bases in the game.

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Atlanta Braves vs. San Diego Padres odds

Atlanta Braves	+100
San Diego Padres	-120
Run Line	Padres -1.5
Total	O/U 8.0

Atlanta Braves vs. San Diego Padres player props

Player Home Run Odds

Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD Padres)	+280
Marcell Ozuna (ATL Braves)	+300
Austin Riley (ATL Braves)	+320
Jackson Merrill (SD Padres)	+425
Matt Olson (ATL Braves)	+425
Orlando Arcia (ATL Braves)	+650

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.