The San Diego Padres open the 2023 season Thursday night against the Colorado Rockies, with the start of the game rescheduled in an attempt to avoid a rainout. Left-hander Blake Snell will pitch for the Padres against Rockies right-hander German Marquez. Pregame pageantry includes the unfurling of a United States-shaped flag, held by 75 season ticket members. The national anthem will be performed by saxophonist Jason Brown, who also performed the first national anthem in Petco Park history. An MH-60S helicopter flyover will follow the national anthem. The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy, who will be inducted into the Padres Hall of Fame this season. U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Charitee Swift-Day will perform "God Bless America" before the seventh-inning stretch. The Padres are in the rare position of being favored to win the National League West. The website Fangraphs gives the Padres a 55.4% chance of winning the division and projects they will be 90-72 and finish three games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres last won the division in 2006. Find more sports news here: https://www.cbs8.com/sports