The set-up: The Atlanta Braves went 68-93 last season and the San Diego Padres were 68-94. In the early going of 2017, the Padres have opened 5-5 while the Braves are 2-6, although Atlanta has yet to play at home. That changes here, as the Braves open a four-game series with the Padres in the team's brand-new stadium, SunTrust Park. The Braves opened the season with a three-city road trip and needed a 5-4 ninth-inning victory over the Marlins in Miami on Wednesday, just to avoid coming home to christen their new ballpark on a six-game losing streak. San Diego took two of three at Colorado this week (held the Rockies to just six runs in the three games) and after scoring just 10 runs in the team's first four games, the Padres have scored 25 in winning four of their past six contests.

The pitching matchup: Jhoulys Chacin (1-1 & 8.10 ERA) takes the mound for San Diego and Atlanta ace Julio Teheran (0-0 & 0.00 ERA) gets the ball for Atlanta. Chacin surrendered nine runs in just 3 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 3 (opposite Kershaw) in Colorado's 2017 debut, giving up eight hits and hitting a batter. However, he rebounded to beat San Francisco this past Saturday, allowing three hits with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 shutout innings. He is 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA over four career starts against the Braves (teams are 1-3). Teheran started the final game the Atlanta Braves played at Turner Field last season and tonight, he fittingly draws the honor of starting the inaugural game at SunTrust Park. Teheran opened the 2017 season by throwing six scoreless innings against the New York Mets on April 3 and followed up by allowing two unearned runs on six hits in seven innings Sunday at Pittsburgh. Atlanta's offense has struggled in both of Teheran's 2017 starts but what else is new? The Braves averaged just 3.35 runs in Teheran's starts last season, 2nd-worst fewest among starters. He's 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA is seven career starts against the Padres (Braves are 3-4).

The pick: The Atlanta Braves don't come into their home opener at their new ballpark with the record they hoped for, but at least they'll have the pitcher they'd want on the mound (Teheran has yet to allow an ER in 13 innings!). San Diego was swept in a three-game series at Atlanta last year and has struggled mightily at Turner Field for most of its 20 seasons of use by the Braves. No reason for that to change at SunTrust Park. Make Atlanta a 10* play.