It was a revamped San Diego Padres team that came into the season looking to improve on a record that ranked among the worst in baseball last year, so there must have been a rather dejected atmosphere in the dressing room after the club lost three of the first four games. After claiming three of four against the Giants it looks like the Padres are rolling though and I like their chances of making it four on the bounce tonight hosting a D-backs team that has split its first three games on the season.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The visitors will hand the ball to Rubby De La Rosa who came over from the Red Sox during the winter break and was rewarded with the decision in a 7-6 win against the Giants his first start as a D-back. The 26 year old was torched for six runs on eight hits with two homers over 5 1/3 innings though, and he can most likely not count on such run support tonight as the Padres are countering by sending Andrew Cashner to the mound. While it is true that the 28 year old struggled in his first outing of the season as well, keep in mind that he was compiling a minuscule ERA of 1.43 over 11 home starts last year. He was 0-2 over three starts against the D-backs despite posting a respectable 3.00 ERA over 18 innings of work and we can count on him getting better support from the offense tonight.

2. Road Woes - This will be the D-backs first game away from home on the year but their 31-50 road record last year ranked among the worst in the majors. They're only 1-5 in their last six games as a road underdog of +110 to +150 and De La Rosa was a pathetic 1-5 over 10 road starts last season behind a swollen 5.40 ERA.

3. X-Factor - The Padres are 5-1 in Cashner's last six starts at Petco Park.

Selection: This is a play on the San Diego Padres(6*)