Padres Announce Exciting Choice to Throw Out First Pitch of Game 4

Game 3 of the NLDS matchup between the LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres goes down on Friday, but that hasn't stopped Padres fans from already being excited for Game 4. After all, MLB insider Kevin Acee revealed Thursday evening that long-time San Diego pitcher Jake Peavy is slated to throw out Game 4's first pitch.

Making this bout even more exciting is the fact that Joe Musgrove will draw the start for the Padres. While the 29-year-old wears No. 44 in honor of Peavy, the former Cy Young winner will be wearing Musgrove's jersey for the first pitch.

Dodgers vs Padres Game 4

When Musgrove joined the Padres in early 2021, he told The San Diego Union Tribune that Peavy was his favorite player because of "the way he carried himself on the field." He added that going to Padres games with his dad and seeing Peavy "gave me the confidence to be myself."

It's hard not to fault Musgrove for idolizing Peavy during the latter's time with the Padres. The former 1999 15th-rounder spent 7.5 seasons in San Diego, going 92-68 with a 3.29 ERA in 212 starts, earning a pair of MLB All-Star appearances while taking home 2007 NL Cy Young honors.

Now, Musgrove has the chance to potentially eliminate the Dodgers in front of his idol depending on how Game 3 goes. However, that'll be easier said than done. The 2022 All-Star is 0-6 with a 4.04 ERA in 12 all-time games (nine starts) against LA, so time will tell if Peavy's presence gives him a boost.

Regardless of the outcome of Game 4, Musgrove likely won't ever forget seeing Peavy throw out the first pitch in his own jersey. Sometimes, life just comes full circle.

Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Devon Platana also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username PepeSilvia0. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.

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