San Diego Padres vs Atlanta Braves Prediction, Preview and Odds - 07/21/2026

Game Time: 7:15 pm ET, Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Venue:  Truist Park, Atlanta, GA

Where to Watch:  MLB TV

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Padres +120, Braves -145; Over/Under:  9 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Padres +120, Braves -140; Over/Under:  9.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Padres +125, Braves -145; Over/Under:  9.5 runs

San Diego Padres:  49-50 (3rd place, NL West)

Atlanta Braves:  57-41 (1st place, NL East)

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San Diego Padres:  5-5 last 10

Atlanta Braves:  5-5 last 10

The Padres are entering this series off a win and lost their 3-game series against the Kansas City Royals 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 49-50 record overall and have a road record of 22-26. This is the 2nd game of a 4-game series with the Braves on Tuesday with the series opener still to be played on Monday. Their offense ranks 29th in the MLB with a .682 OPS. JP Sears is their starting pitcher on Monday while Walker Buehler is making his start in this game on Tuesday. He is 5-5 with a 5.36 ERA this season. His team lost 2 of their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 4 ER, 1 HR, and 4 BB with 1 SO on 3 hits through 2 IP against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Braves are entering this series off a win and won their 3-game series against the Texas Rangers 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 57-41 record overall and have a home record of 29-19. This is the 2nd game of a 4-game series with the Padres on Tuesday with the 1st game of this series still to be played on Monday. Their offense ranks 9th in the MLB with a .734 OPS. Bryce Elder is their starting pitcher on Monday while Reynaldo López is making his start in this game on Tuesday. He is 4-2 with a 3.50 ERA this season. His team lost their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 4 earned runs, 1 homer, and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts on 5 hits through 5 innings pitched against the St Louis Cardinals.

The current betting odds have the Braves listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Braves have looked great in their games this season with their 57-41 record overall which has them right at the top of the NL East with one of the best records in MLB. They have looked great in their own ballpark too with their 29-19 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Padres haven't looked great in their games this season with their 49-50 record overall which has them right in the middle of the NL West. They haven't been a great road team either with their 22-26 road record this year. The Padres had a great start to the season and were right in the playoff race the first few months, but lately they haven't looked great and are only 5-5 in their last 10 games. The Braves are also 5-5 in their last 10 games and haven't been at their best lately after a really hot start to the season, but their offense has been looking a lot better now and they are getting healthier with some pitchers coming back. They are going with Lopez in this one and he has looked good this season. He is 4-2 with a 3.50 ERA and he hasn't been giving up many runs this season. His team has lost 2 games in a row now with him starting and he did give up 4 earned runs in his last start, but that hasn't been a common theme for him this year. The Padres also have one of the worst offenses in MLB, so the Braves have a big edge there. The Padres are going with Buehler in this one and he hasn't looked good this season. He is 5-5 with a 5.36 ERA and he has been giving up quite a few runs lately. He gave up 4 earned runs in his last start which has been a common theme and the team has lost 2 of their last 3 games with him starting too. The Braves have been a stronger team all season with the better offense by far, so look for the Braves to take advantage of this better pitching matchup too. The best way to place a bet here is on the Braves to win this game. 

Padres Braves Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Tuesday, July 21, 2026 (7:15 pm ET start time) is Braves 7 Padres 1.

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San Diego Padres: 45-37 (+7.5 units) on the moneyline against NL East opponents. 238-196 (+20.6 units) on the moneyline in all games. 111-106 (+11.3 units) on the moneyline in road games. 10-5 UNDER against NL East opponents.

Atlanta Braves: 34-51 (-32.4 units) on the moneyline against NL West opponents. 222-202 (-46.3 units) on the moneyline in all games. 114-96 (-28.2 units) on the moneyline in home games. 121-79 UNDER in home games.

San Diego Padres:  S. Taylor (LF) Ten Day IL - Oblique. J. Adam (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Shoulder. D. Morgan (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Knee. L. Giolito (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. J. Estrada (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Knee. R. Laureano (LF) Sixty Day IL - Hip. N. Pivetta (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. B. Hoeing (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. Musgrove (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

Atlanta Braves:  M. Yastrzemski (LF) Ten Day IL - Elbow. M. Perez (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Forearm. H. Kim (SS) Ten Day IL - Finger. R. Suarez (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. S. Strider (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. R. Acuna Jr. (RF) Ten Day IL - Hamstring. S. Murphy (C) Sixty Day IL - Finger. A. Smith-Shawver (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. Wentz (RP) Sixty Day IL - Knee. J. Jimenez (RP) Sixty Day IL - Knee. S. Schwellenbach (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

“When we had runners in scoring position, we took some really good at-bats. That’s what we’re hoping for the rest of the year.” - Craig Stammen after his team’s win against the Royals in their game on Sunday. 

“Even through our worst struggles, I always had hope, because when I looked into the crystal ball and I looked down the road, I knew we were going to get some guys back. The guys that were struggling, that wasn't going to continue, because their track record said so.” - Walt Weiss after his team’s win against the Rangers in their game on Sunday. 

Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) RF

Jackson Merrill (L) CF

Manny Machado (R) 3B

Ty France (R) 1B

Xander Bogaerts (R) SS

Miguel Andujar (R) DH

Luis Rengifo (S) 2B

Jase Bowen (R) LF

Luis Campusano (R) C

Drake Baldwin (L) C

Ozzie Albies (S) 2B

Matt Olson (L) 1B

Michael Harris II (L) CF

Mauricio Dubón (R) LF

Dominic Smith (L) DH

Austin Riley (R) 3B

Jim Jarvis (L) SS

Brewer Hicklen (R) RF

Batting Average:  Luis Rengifo (.429)

Hits:  Fernando Tatis (109)

Home Runs:  Manny Machado (19)

RBI:  Manny Machado (56)

Stolen Bases:  Fernando Tatis (25)

Wins:  Adrian Morejon (7)

Saves:  Mason Miller (25)

ERA:  Mason Miller (0.89)

Batting Average:  Victor Mederos (1.000)

Hits:  Michael Harris (105)

Home Runs:  Matt Olson (26)

RBI:  Matt Olson (59)

Stolen Bases:  Ronald Acuña (15)

Wins:  Chris Sale (10)

Saves:  Raisel Iglesias (19)

ERA:  Hunter Stratton (0.00)

Managers:

San Diego Padres: Craig Stammen (1st season)

Atlanta Braves: Walt Weiss (1st season)