first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Jake Peavy (1-2, 5.50 ERA) vs Steve Trachsel (1-1, 4.09 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN

The Mets come to town Thursday night to begin a four-game series at Petco Park. New York has gotten off to a hot start, winning 10 if its first 14 games of the season. The Mets are doing it with good hitting (Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, David Wright, some guy who used to ride pine for the Padres) and great pitching (what’s up with Tom Glavine’s strikeout totals so far?)

As for the Padres, they took the final game of the Rockies series in convincing fashion, 13-4, to finish their road trip at 5-4. The bats started to heat up toward the end of the trip, although how much of that is due to Coors Field remains to be seen.

Adrian Gonzalez has been leading the way for most of the young season, with veterans Vinny Castilla and Brian Giles also starting to get on track. Now rookie Josh Barfield is getting into the act, and even Khalil Greene, who hasn’t been getting many hits to fall, continues to show an improved approach at the plate. He leads the team in both ISO (.264, 25th in the NL) and P/PA (4.15, 21st in the NL). About the only guy not at least showing signs right now is catcher Mike Piazza, who hasn’t done much outside of Opening Day.

On the pitching side, the patchwork bullpen has been spectacular. As for the rotation, let’s just say you’d rather not see a team use 7 starters through its first 14 games. Chris Young, who starts Saturday night against Pedro Martinez, has been better than expected, and Jake Peavy, who gets the call tonight, looked good his last time out.

There it is. Go Padres!