first pitch: 1:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Adam Eaton (10-5, 4.51 ERA) vs Elmer Dessens (1-1, 3.65 ERA)
preview: ESPN | Padres.com

Very strange to be writing this and knowing that the Padres have more games after today, the final game of the season. We’re not used to that around here.

This game is meaningless for everyone but the Dodgers fans who were out at Petco last night running smack. The real games of interest are the Cubs at the Astros (Greg Maddux vs Roy Oswalt; WGN, 11 a.m., PT) and the Phillies at the Nationals (Jon Leiber vs Hector Carrasco). If the Cubs and Phillies both win, the Astros and Phils play a one-game playoff. If the Astros win the wildcard, the Pads face St. Louis in the first round. If the Phils win it, the Pads square off against Atlanta. We’ll break everything down once we know for sure who the Padres are playing.

Other Stuff

• Padres set rotation for first playoff series (NC Times). Peavy, Pedro Astacio, Eaton, Peavy, and probably Woody Williams.
• Bochy has ace up his sleeve for playoffs (U-T). Over the past two years, there’s only been one pitcher in baseball better than Peavy. I’ll take the kid from Mobile against anyone, anytime.
• Williams wants the Cards (Padres.com). Quoth Woody: “To pitch in the last year of the stadium would be special. It’s a great baseball town, great fans and, obviously, a place where I had a lot of good times.”
• Injured Hammond not likely to make first-round roster (NC Times). This probably means a 10-man staff and the addition of Sean Burroughs to the bench.

There you go. Bring on the playoffs!