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Spencer Strider is one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers.

That’s not enough for him.

The Atlanta Braves ace is looking to make things even tougher on anyone who steps up against him in 2024.

Still miffed about the way last season ended, with another loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Division Series, Strider spent spring training working on a curveball that could make his repertoire nastier than it already is.

“In sort of analyzing the way the season ended last year and the season as a whole, the outcome is that we were not — and myself in particular — we were not as good as we needed to be to complete our ultimate goal of winning the World Series,” Strider said. “You start addressing that by improving where you can. One of the ways I could improve was to try to adopt this curveball.”

In his first full season as a starting pitcher, Strider certainly had plenty of reasons to be proud of himself. He was baseball’s lone 20-game winner, finished fourth in the NL Cy Young voting and broke Hall of Famer John Smoltz’s franchise record for strikeouts in a season by punching out 281 hitters.

But Strider lost both starts in the NL Division Series against the rival Phillies, including the decisive Game 4 in raucous Philadelphia, where he surrendered three runs in 5 2/3 innings — all of them on solo homers.

Lucky for Atlantans, we have a pretty great baseball team to root for each and every spring. So as the MLB returns once again, the Atlanta Braves will continue the quest for a seventh straight division title.

Over at Truist Park, the home team will face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks for the Atlanta Braves home opener on April 5. But before you grab your seats for the first pitch, there’s a few important things to note about Truist Park. The Atlanta Braves stadium is located in The Battery, so unlike some other stadiums across the country, sports fans have a slew of great restaurants and bars at their disposal for pregaming, celebrating after the game, and even mid-game bites. The prime location also means it’s easy to make a weekend trip or staycation out of your time at Truist Park.

So once you secure some tickets to catch the Atlanta Braves in action and figure out your parking strategy at this notoriously busy ballpark, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your trip to the Atlanta Braves’ beloved Truist Park.

Live at the Battery Atlanta
Photo courtesy of Live at the Battery Atlanta
Best Food and Drink at Truist Park
H&F Burger
The Battery
Owned by the local Hopkins couple, this menu of burgers has been praised both near and far. The Original H&F Cheeseburger reigns supreme, but you can also add toppings like bacon, avocado, and jalapeños to spice things up a bit. Look out for the speciality burger of the month, or try your pick of Hop’s Chicken Sandwiches.

Terrapin Taproom & Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
The Battery
Baseball, beer, and barbecue: the holy trinity of the South. And thanks to Truist Park’s location alongside The Battery, you can get all three just a hop, skip, and a jump away from all the Atlanta Braves action. Terrapin Taproom & Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q has some of the best wings in the city, as well as a selection of barbecue that includes pulled pork, beef brisket, and smoked ribs. After devouring their signature dish of tater tots smothered in chili and melted cheese called The Lopez, you can hit the Brew Lab to test its many baseball-themed beers.

Punch Bowl Social
The Battery
This 25,000-square-foot establishment overlooking The Battery is the perfect pre-game spot. Get ready to cheer on the home team with a specialty punch or cocktail in hand while bowling or playing some of the venue’s other arcade games.

LIVE! at the Battery
The Battery
If you’re a fan of sports and really, really, really big screen televisions, check out Live! It’s basically a one-stop shop. On the lower level, you can find some really good eats at The Tavern and drink the night away with friends at the bar located right by the front door. If you’re feeling adventurous, go upstairs to PBR or Sports & Social, where there’s live DJ’s, $6 house margaritas, and 50% off select starters.