While some of the names have changed, the Atlanta Braves remain a big draw for the casual baseball fan in 2025. The Braves will be without All-Stars Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr. as they recover from injuries to begin the season and the loss of starting pitchers Charlie Morton and Max Fried will leave a big hole in the rotation.
But the Braves still have a core that should allow them to compete in 2025 and the traditional allure of being one of baseball’s most popular teams makes them appealing to a national audience.
With that being said, it’s not a surprise that the Braves were hand-picked for a nationally televised game at the beginning of the year and it comes against an enticing opponent.
Braves to Play NL Wild Card Rematch Against Padres on National Television
Fox Sports announced its lineup of nationally televised games for the opening month of the season on Tuesday morning. While the Tokyo Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs on March 18 and 19 will officially open the year, the Braves will be in the next best window as their matchup with the San Diego Padres is one of two games being featured during the 7 p.m. EST window on March 29.
We're counting down the days!
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) February 25, 2025
Here's a look at the first month of MLB games on FOX pic.twitter.com/OuKFIwa1AX
The Braves and Padres met up during last year’s National League Wild Card Series which was a two game sweep by San Diego. The Padres were in control for most of the postseason matchup, shutting out Atlanta in a 4-0 victory in Game 1 and scoring all five of their runs in the second inning of a 5-4 victory in Game 2.
While both rosters are relatively the same, there are a few key differences. Jurickson Profar, who the Braves signed to a three-year, $42 million contract this offseason, spent the last two years with the Padres including an All-Star campaign in 2024. The Padres could also see more changes coming into the season as Luis Arràez and Dylan Cease have been rumored trade candidates this winter.
The Braves could also have a different look. Spencer Schwellenbach is projected as the Braves No. 3 starter according to FanGraphs depth chart and will be looking to build off a strong rookie year where he went 8-7 with a 3.35 ERA. Atlanta’s bullpen could also play a role with eight non-roster invitees looking to make the club out of Spring Training.
With Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill also in the opposing dugout, this game has plenty of star power even with Strider and Acuña on the shelf. It gives the Braves a chance to show a national audience what to expect in 2025 and present an opportunity to play more high-exposure games throughout the course of the season.