Atlanta Braves Have Heavily Anticipated Matchup At Home This Weekend

The Atlanta Braves continue to be tested in the early parts of the 2024 season

The Atlanta Braves have a tough slate to start the season. 

After opening the season against divisional nemesis Philadelphia, who eliminated Atlanta from the last two postseasons, the Braves were sent to frigid Chicago to take on the White Sox and then finally get to go home...where they get the reigning NL champion Arizona Diamondbacks. 

MLB.com, writing about the “most intriguing” series matchups this week, identified Atlanta-Arizona as one to pay attention to.

It’s a matchup of great outfielders, with reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr squaring off with reigning NL Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll. There’s other connections between the two teams, as well, with Arizona’s designated hitter Joc Pederson having been a key member of the Braves for their 2021 World Series championship after being traded to Atlanta a few weeks ahead of the trade deadline. 

And there’s some surprising history between the two teams, as well. The teams have played each other 170 times, with Atlanta holding the all-time edge at 94-76. They tied in 2023, each winning three games each, and the matchups could not have been any more explosive. 

The teams played in Arizona in June, with Atlanta taking two of three behind the power of Eddie Rosario, who went 6-13 with three homers (including a grand slam), a triple, and picked up seven RBIs.  

For the rematch, coming in Atlanta in July, the two teams scored a combined 49 runs in three games, with Arizona taking two out of three in Truist Park. Both team’s first basemen hit multiple home runs in one game, with Christian Walker launching two longballs in game one and Matt Olson responding with two of his own in game three. 

And so, this matchup is deservedly listed as one to watch. Depending on the weather in Chicago today, Atlanta will have either Spencer Strider or Max Fried on the bump for Friday’s series opener. 

  Probable pitching matchups

Friday - Max Fried vs Tommy Henry
Saturday - Chris Sale vs Brandon Pfaadt
Sunday - Charlie Morton vs Kyle Nelson