Even with time running out in their quest to catch the Los Angeles Dodgers or Chicago Cubs to earn home-field advantage for the first round of the National League playoffs, the San Diego Padres are taking a big-picture look at the regular season's last 15 games.

The Padres will call up JP Sears from Triple-A El Paso to start Friday night against the visiting Colorado Rockies, giving their other starters an extra day of rest that they feel will help them in their quest to start the playoffs at home.

Manager Mike Shildt noted that starting Sears is equal parts confidence in the left-hander acquired from the Athletics at the trade deadline and helping manage the workload for veterans such as Yu Darvish and Dylan Cease.

"We know we're keeping everybody in a position where they can go out an

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