Braves at Padres
The Atlanta Braves took three of four from the Washington Nationals over the weekend to jump back into first place in the National League East and will try to keep up the momentum when they hit the west coast. The Braves begin a six-game road trip on Monday by visiting the San Diego Padres.
Atlanta fell in 14 innings on Saturday but came out on top Sunday when Charlie Culberson delivered his second walk-off homer of the homestand with a two-run, pinch-hit blast. "That's pretty cool. It really is," Culberson told reporters. "The fans were really into it. I heard them chanting my name. I was thinking this is a neat situation. To be in it again, I was like, 'just put a good swing on it, get a good pitch and try not to do too much. And it happened. I'm like, 'Wow.' It's pretty neat." The Padres haven't had as much to celebrate this season while sitting in last place in the NL West but did manage to pull off a series win by taking two of three from the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend. The Braves will try to keep rolling behind right-hander Julio Teheran on Monday while the Padres counter with lefty Clayton Richard.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (4-3, 4.03 ERA) vs. Padres LH Clayton Richard (3-6, 4.74)
Teheran turned in quality starts in each of his last two outings but suffered a pair of losses thanks to lackluster run support. The Colombia native surrendered two runs over seven innings against the New York Mets on Wednesday in a game Atlanta went on to lose 4-1. Teheran is 4-2 with a 3.76 ERA in eight career starts against San Diego, including a win in his lone start against the Padres last season.
Richard is coming off a strong effort against Miami on Wednesday, when he allowed two runs and four hits over seven innings while striking out five but settled for a no-decision. The 34-year-old worked at least seven innings in four of his last five starts but is just 2-2 in that span. Richard is still looking for his first career win over the Braves and is 0-6 with a 6.75 ERA in nine career games - six starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Padres 3B Christian Villanueva left Sunday's game with an ankle injury and is day-to-day.
2. Atlanta 2B Ozzie Albies, who leads the team with 14 home runs, is homerless in his last 12 games.
3. San Diego OF Hunter Renfroe is 7-for-14 over his last six games after delivering a pinch-hit grand slam on Sunday.