The San Diego Padres host the Milwaukee Brewers in a Division Series game at Petco Park on Tuesday, October 6, with first pitch set for 9:30 PM ET on FS1. Nick Pivetta gets the ball for San Diego against former Dodger Dustin May, who now toes the rubber for Milwaukee. With the season on the line in October baseball, this is as big as it gets for a Padres lineup that puts Fernando Tatis Jr. at the top of the order and Manny Machado in the heart of it. Petco Park will be rocking, and this city is ready.

Padres vs. Brewers NLDS Pitching Matchup: Nick Pivetta vs. Dustin May

Pivetta draws the postseason assignment for San Diego, a significant vote of confidence from the Padres' coaching staff. The right-hander will need to command all quadrants of the strike zone against a Milwaukee lineup that makes you work for every out. On the other side, May — a right-hander with premium stuff — presents a genuine challenge for a Padres offense that will need to stay disciplined early in counts.

Neither pitcher has stats listed for this series, so the performance on the mound Tuesday night will speak for itself. What matters is execution, and in October, every pitch carries more weight than a regular-season at-bat ever could.

San Diego Padres Starting Lineup

• 1. Fernando Tatis Jr. — RF
• 2. Jackson Merrill — CF
• 3. Manny Machado — 3B
• 4. Ty France — 1B
• 5. Ethan Salas — C
• 6. Gavin Sheets — DH
• 7. Xander Bogaerts — SS
• 8. Dustin Harris — LF
• 9. Jake Cronenworth — 2B

Keys to Watch for the Padres at Petco Park

Tatis Jr. Setting the Tone

Fernando Tatis Jr. leads off this postseason lineup, which tells you everything about the role the Padres need him to play. When Tatis is on base and creating chaos, this offense has a different energy. His ability to reach base and put pressure on Milwaukee's defense and pitching staff early will be critical. A big first inning from the Padres could tilt the entire game.

Machado in the Middle of It

Manny Machado hitting third is a stabilizing force in this lineup. In October, Machado has the experience and the poise to deliver in pressure situations. The Brewers will need to decide how to pitch to him with Tatis and Merrill potentially on base ahead of him — those are not easy choices.

Ethan Salas Behind the Plate

The young catcher Ethan Salas slots in fifth, and his ability to manage Pivetta's game plan against Milwaukee's hitters is just as important as whatever he does offensively. Salas calling a sharp game and keeping Pivetta in rhythm could be the difference in a close October contest.

The Bottom of the Order

Bogaerts, Harris, and Cronenworth hitting seventh through ninth is not a soft underbelly — these are legitimate postseason contributors who can extend innings and drive in runs. If the Brewers' pitching loses focus on the bottom third of this lineup, the Padres will make them pay.

Prediction: Padres Win at Home

Petco Park in October is a fortress when the crowd is engaged, and this fanbase will show up loud on Tuesday night. Pivetta needs to be sharp, and the lineup — top to bottom — needs to make May work deep into counts. Expect the Padres to lean on their home crowd, manufacture runs early, and trust their bullpen to close it out. San Diego wins this one.