Thu Mar 27 09:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Braves and Padres Kick Off Season with NL Showdown at Petco Park

**SAN DIEGO, CA** – The Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres will renew their postseason rivalry on Thursday, April 4th, as they face off in the opening game of the 2025 Major League Baseball season at Petco Park. This marks a rematch of their 2024 NL Wild Card Series, where the Padres emerged victorious against an injury-ridden Braves team.

This year, however, the Braves arrive healthier and stronger, boasting a lineup featuring the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, Chris Sale, who will take the mound for his sixth Opening Day start. The Padres will counter with Michael King, whose stellar 2024 season earned him the Opening Day nod. Jurickson Profar, a fan favorite in San Diego during his five seasons with the Padres, will now face his former team in an Atlanta uniform.

Both managers anticipate a challenging and exciting opening game. Padres manager Mike Shildt praised the Braves’ “star power, good pitching, good bullpen, and experienced regulars.”

While the Braves will be without Spencer Strider (elbow surgery) and Ronald Acuña Jr. (knee surgery) to start the season, and veteran catcher Sean Murphy is out with a cracked rib, the Padres also have several key players – Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Matt Waldron, and several relievers – starting the season on the injured list. Musgrove’s absence is long-term due to Tommy John surgery.

The game begins at 4:10 p.m. ET/1:10 p.m. PT and can be viewed on various regional sports networks (see text for specifics) and listened to on various radio stations. Ozzie Albies will be making his eighth consecutive Opening Day start at second base for the Braves, while Manny Machado will make his sixth at third base for the Padres. The teams’ projected lineups and pitching rotations are detailed in the original release. The game promises a compelling matchup between two National League powerhouses, setting the stage for what could be another exciting postseason battle later in the year.

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