The Padres failed to finish off the Rockies in the regular season and they will now try to do so in a 1-game playoff at Coors Field tonight. The Padres are very confident as they have the likely Cy Young Award Winner Jake Peavy starting tonight. Peavy won the pitching triple crown this season as he led the National League in wins (19), strikeouts (234) and ERA (2.36) in 2007. He has started 2 games this season against the Rockies and he is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA against them. He also is 11-2 this season after a Padres loss. Peavy will be opposing Josh Fogg of the Rockies. Fogg was 10-9 with a 4.79 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP in 29 games (28 starts). He started 3 games against the Padres this season and he was 1-1 with a 6.28 ERA and a 2.16 WHIP.

Shortstop Khalil Greene of the Padres loves hitting at Coors Field. Over his career he is 49 for 144 (.340 avg) with 12 homers and 34 RBIs. 1B Adrian Gonzalez has also swung a hot stick there this season as he is 12 for 39 (.308 avg) with 2 homers and 12 RBIs in 9 games at Coors Field.

The Padres are 88-71 on the season which has them 1 game behind the D-Backs in the N.L. West and they are also 1 game ahead of the Mets, Phillies and Rockies in the Wild Card Race.  The whole season for the Padres will come down to their last three games of the season against the Brewers this weekend.  Scott Hairston is a big reason for the success of the Padres down the stretch.  He has played in 27 games for the Padres since they acquired him from the D-Backs and he is 22 for 67 (.328 avg, 1.133 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 7 homers and 18 RBIs.  Hairston is playing so well for the Padres that they might consider giving him a shot to start in left field next season.

42-year old righty Greg Maddux has saved his best for last this season and the Padres have really needed it.  Maddux has started 14 games since the All-Star Break and he is 6-4 with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.  In 79.2 innings since the All-Star Break, Maddux has allowed 86 hits, walked only 5 batters and whiffed 41.  For the season, Maddux has started in 32 games and he is 13-10 with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.  He has worked 189.1 innings this season and he has allowed 207 hits, walked 23 batters and whiffed 100.  The Padres are now 83-67 which has them in 2nd place in the National League West, 1 game behind the D-Backs.  They are also 1.5 games ahead of the Phillies in the N.L. Wild Card Standings.

The Padres are 2.5 games ahead of the Phillies in the Wild Card Standing but they would much rather win the National League West and grab the #1 or #2 seed in the National League for the playoffs.  The Padres are currently 78-65 which has them 2.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks.  They will need to get their bats going to support the outstanding pitching staff they have to catch the D-Backs.

The Padres have won 7 of their last 10 games to take over first place in the National League West.  The Padres are now 76-61 which has them in first place only 1 game ahead of the Diamondbacks.  The Padres have done it this season with timely hitting and outstanding pitching as they have only allowed 540 runs (3.9 per game) which is the least in all of baseball.  Adrian Gonzalez is the best hitter on the Padres this season as he is hitting .283 with 83 runs scored, 25 homers and 81 RBIs.  Mike Cameron (.254, 78 runs, 19 homers, 73 RBIs, 15 stolen bases) and Khalil Greene (.251 avg, 68 runs, 19 homers and 76 RBIs) have both added some sock to the lineup this season for the Padres.  Jake Peavy is making a Cy Young run again this season as he is 16-5 with a 2.10 ERA.  Chris Young has Peavy’s back as he is 9-5 with a 2.38 ERA.  Ancient stopper Trevor Hoffman has been solid again this year as he is 3-4 with 36 saves and a 2.76 ERA.