WILL BE GOOD TO BE HOME: The San Diego Padres wrap up a three-game series at St. Louis today…the Friars and Cards are opening a season for the first time…SD works out at 3 o’clock Monday prior to Tuesday’s 3:35 p.m. home opener vs. the San Francisco Giants.

VS. THE REDBIRDS: All-time, SD is 6-14 at the “new” Busch Stadium, including losses in 12 of the past 15 games here…overall, San Diego has lost 18 of the past 25 to the Cards…prior to Saturday, SD had not won two consecutive games in St. Louis since 2006 (9/25-26) when they took two of three…before this weekend, that ‘06 set (9/25-27) was the club’s only previous winning series at new Busch Stadium…going back to the 2001 campaign, the Padres are 10-26 at St. Louis.

OUT OF THE GATE: A win today would give the Padres a 3-0 start for just the fourth time in franchise history…San Diego won the season’s first three games in 1969, 1980 and 1984… the ‘84 Padres were the only team to win the first four games…the club has had only one three-game sweep to begin a season, that coming in its inaugural season in 1969 over the Houston Astros at home.

SEEING RED: A win today would give the Padres their first three-game sweep of St. Louis since 1995 (8/11-12) at home…San Diego has not swept a three-game set in St. Louis since 1980 (5/23-25)…the team is looking to beat the Redbirds three straight in any fashion for the first time since ‘06 (5/28-9/26)…additionally, the Pads haven’t taken three consecutive games within the same series since winning the first three of a four-game set in 2004 (5/5-8).

UPDATE: Mat Latos has thrown two side sessions during the St. Louis series (Thursday, Saturday)…he’s scheduled to return to Peoria, Ariz., for a minor league game on Monday…he’s slated to toss approximately 70 pitches.

IN THE NICK OF TIME: Nick Hundley was 1-for-19 (2B) with no RBI and a walk in his previous six games at Busch Stadium…this series at St. Louis, the Padres’ catcher is 4-for-8 with a double, triple, four RBI, one HBP and a walk.