SAN DIEGO — The Padres will open their National League Wild Card Series Tuesday at Petco Park, facing an Atlanta Braves team that will be playing its third game in two days on two coasts.
The Braves had to play a makeup doubleheader against the New York Mets on Monday in Atlanta, with both teams needing one victory to be assured of a postseason berth.
The Padres were 4-3 against Atlanta in the regular season, including a 1-2 record at Petco Park, where the entire best-of-three series will be played.
Game 2 is set for Wednesday and Game 3, if necessary, Thursday. The winner will face the Dodgers in a National League Division Series set to begin Saturday.
Game 1: Tuesday, Oct 1 at 5:38 p.m.
The Padres will have right-hander Michael King on the mound for the game on Tuesday at 5:38 p.m. at Petco Park.
"I can't wait to see this place in the playoffs," King said Monday during a news conference at Petco Park. "The fans here are absolutely nuts, and I am very excited to see what we can bring."
King had a 13-9 record and a 2.95 ERA in the regular season. The Padres were 18-12 in King's 30 starts, including a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers last Tuesday that assured the Padres of a postseason berth.
King has faced the Braves once, pitching 3 2/3 innings of shutout relief as a member of the New York Yankees in a 2-0 loss on Aug. 16, 2023.
King's lone postseason appearance came as a 25-year-old rookie at Petco Park on Oct. 7, 2020, pitching two perfect innings for the Yankees to conclude an 8-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of an American League Division Series played without fans in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"I was in the visiting clubhouse, wearing a mask at all times," King recalled Monday. "Honestly, I was just happy to be there because I was not on the roster for the Wild Card (Series) against Cleveland, and then got added to the roster when we played the Rays."
King was acquired by the Padres on December 7 in a seven-player trade with the Yankees that sent outfielders Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to the Bronx.
All tickets for the series have been sold, the Padres announced early Monday evening, while a limited number of suites remain available.
Gallagher Square will open at 3 p.m., which includes access to the Padres team store and Power Alley in right field. There will be a special Postseason Pregame Party in Gallagher Square prior to each game beginning two- and-a-half hours before first pitch featuring live music, photo opportunities and drink specials.
All remaining gates at the ballpark with access to the seating bowl will open at 3:30 p.m.
Fans should be in their seats no later than 40 minutes prior to the first pitch of each game to enjoy the entire pregame ceremony.
The 5:38 p.m. game will be televised by ESPN.
Padres Postseason ticket information at Padres.com/Postseason
Padres National League Wild Card Series Schedule:
- Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 5:38 PM PT
- Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 5:38 PM PT
- Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday, Oct. 3 at 4:08 PM PT*
*Game 3 start time is subject to change pending the outcome of other Wild Card games.
How the Padres got here
San Diego had locked in the top NL Wildcard spot before the season ended, but they had to wait till Monday afternoon to find out that they would be hosting the Atlanta Braves in the first game of the best-of-three National League Wild Card Series.
The Padres first round opponent was decided by a doubleheader played on Monday between the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets in Atlanta. After the Mets won game one 8-7, they clinched their spot in the postseason. The Braves followed up with a win in the second game, clinching their spot in the playoffs against the Padres and also knocking the reigning NL champion Arizona Diamondbacks out completely.
Even with the loss to finish the season, the team's record of 93-69 is the second-best in franchise history, only trailing the magical 1998 season when they finished 98-64 and went all the way to the World Series, eventually losing to the New York Yankees.
The Padres' Luis Arraez finished his season going 1 for 3 on Sunday finishing with a .314 batting average, just enough to beat out Shohei Ohtani and set to win the NL batting title, set to become the first player since the 1800s to earn batting titles with three teams and he will have done it in three consecutive seasons in two different leagues.
Arraez won the AL batting title when he was in Minnesota and hit .316 in 2022, The following year he won the NL batting title with Miami hitting .354. He was traded to the Padres in May.
