first pitch: 12:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Jake Peavy (7-12, 4.35 ERA) vs Aaron Cook (8-12, 4.05 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com buy tickets Padres go for the series win at Coors Field Sunday afternoon behind their hottest pitcher, Jake Peavy. If he isn’t quite “vintage Peavy,” he’s getting pretty darned close. Peavy [...]

first pitch: 5:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Clay Hensley (7-10, 4.07 ERA) vs Jason Jennings (7-10, 3.32 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN buy tickets Bad news is, the Padres got spanked in the opener at Coors Field. Good news is, the Dodgers and Reds both lost, so the Friars remain a [...]

first pitch: 6:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Mike Thompson (3-4, 4.40 ERA) vs Jeff Francis (9-10 3.38 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com buy tickets Can you even imagine where the Padres would be right now without Mike Thompson? With Chan Ho Park likely done for the year, chances are we’ll be seeing a [...]

first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Woody Williams (6-4, 3.67 ERA) vs Brad Penny (13-6, 3.70 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com buy tickets Since pitching in the All-Star game last month, Brad Penny is 3-4, with a 5.70 ERA. Opponents are hitting .282 against him, and have knocked eight homers in 43 [...]

first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Jake Peavy (6-12, 4.55 ERA) vs Mark Hendrickson (5-13, 4.31 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com buy tickets Jake Peavy is enjoying a strong August, which makes for a refreshing change. His monthly ERAs are all over the place this year: Month ERA Apr 5.17 May 3.32 [...]

first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Chan Ho Park (7-7, 4.68 ERA) Tim Stauffer (0-0, —) vs Chad Billingsley (4-3, 3.16 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com buy tickets Ladies and gentlemen, I present the Padres’ new secret weapon, the venerable Manny Alexander. Now that one of the few people in baseball who [...]

first pitch: 1:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Chris Young (9-5, 3.80 ERA) vs Miguel Batista (10-5, 4.67 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN buy tickets Clay Hensley is hurt, missing Saturday’s scheduled start. Khalil Greene has been placed on the 15-day DL, leaving the Padres without a shortstop. The left side of [...]

first pitch: 1:05 p.m., PT television: FOX matchup: Clay Hensley (7-10, 4.19 ERA) vs Claudio Vargas (9-8, 5.10 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN buy tickets You know what’s awesome? For all our griping about the Padres’ recent play, they’re only 1 game out of a playoff spot. Game is on FOX this afternoon, [...]

first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT television: Channel 4SD matchup: Woody Williams (5-4, 3.79 ERA) vs Enrique Gonzalez (3-4, 4.98 ERA) previews: Padres.com | SI.com buy tickets Second place Snakes are in town (but not on a plane, although I guess they probably were at some point) for the weekend. Padres get their first look at [...]

first pitch: 12:35 p.m., PT television: none matchup: Jake Peavy (6-11, 4.58 ERA) vs Matt Cain (8-9, 4.89 ERA) previews: Padres.com | ESPN buy tickets I don’t know which is worse, the apparent lack of focus on the field (where did Mike Cameron’s mind wander off to in the eighth inning as 40-year-old Moises Alou [...]