The Padres certainly knew what they were getting this week -- and, really, this season -- with starting pitchers Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Greg Maddux and Justin Germano.

Those four pitchers, members of the starting rotation, all logged heavy innings for the Padres last season.

The same doesn't hold true with left-hander Randy Wolf, who makes his Padres debut Thursday when San Diego faces the Astros in the fourth and final game of their series at PETCO Park.

Wolf spent last season with the Dodgers, but didn't pitch after July 3, and he underwent shoulder surgery in September to repair a frayed labrum. Wolf was 9-6 with a 4.73 ERA in 18 starts with the Dodgers.

Wolf struggled during Spring Training with his command, though he did toss six scoreless innings in his second-to-last start against the Angels in Tempe before the Padres broke camp. He had a 6.75 ERA in 17 1/3 innings this spring.

The high ERA wasn't alarming to Padres manager Bud Black, who wanted to make sure that Wolf was healthy and his shoulder wasn't an issue. To that end, Wolf's spring proved to be a rousing success.

"The big thing with Randy is he came out of spring feeling confident about the shoulder and the surgery," Black said. "Any time you have surgery, there's probably some apprehension."

Pitching matchup
SD: LHP Randy Wolf (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Wolf, a 2003 All-Star while with the Phillies, signed a one-year deal worth $4.75 million in the offseason. Wolf is 4-4 with a 3.98 ERA in 10 career starts against the Astros. He did not face the Astros in 2007.

HOU: RHP Shawn Chacon (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Chacon, who signed with the Astros after Spring Training was already underway, won a spot in the rotation with a solid spring showing. The right-hander went 4-3 with a 3.52 ERA over 60 relief appearances for the Pirates in 2007, and he was 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA over four starts. He started the season in the bullpen, moved to the rotation in May and back to the bullpen to finish the season. He was scored upon twice in his final 16 outings from Aug. 11 to the end of the season, but did not pitch in the final 10 games due to tightness in his right elbow.

Tidbits
After walking just twice in 135 plate appearances with the Padres last season, catcher Michael Barrett -- who got his first start of the season Wednesday -- walked in his first at-bat against Houston and scored a run in the second inning. ... Triple-A Portland opens the season at home Thursday, as does Class A Lake Elsinore. Peavy will have his jersey retired before the game and center fielder Jim Edmonds will play the first of two games as he works his way back from a strained right calf. Black said Edmonds will play in the field Thursday and, depending on how that goes, could serve as the designated hitter on Friday. Edmonds is expected to be activated from the disabled list before Saturday's game against the Dodgers.

Tickets
 Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.

On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

On television
• Chan. 4

On radio
• XPRS 1090, XEMO 860 (Español)

Up next
• Friday: Padres (Justin Germano, 0-0, 0.00) vs. Dodgers (Hiroki Kuroda, 0-0, 0.00), 7:05 p.m. PT
• Saturday: Padres (Jake Peavy, 1-0, 0.00) vs. Dodgers (Brad Penny, 1-0, 0.00), 12:55 p.m. PT
• Sunday: Padres (Chris Young, 1-0, 1.59) vs. Dodgers (Derek Lowe, 0-0, 3.00), 1:05 p.m. PT