FAQ: What's ahead for Padres in postseason

SAN DIEGO – For the first time in 14 years, the Padres are headed to the postseason. Here are the answers to some early playoff questions about rosters, seeding, scheduling and more:

What could the postseason roster look like?

Here's one guess:

C: Austin Nola, Jason Castro
1B: Eric Hosmer, Mitch Moreland
2B: Jake Cronenworth
3B: Manny Machado
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr.
Util.: Greg Garcia, Jorge Mateo
OF: Trent Grisham, Wil Myers, Tommy Pham, Jurickson Profar
Rotation: Mike Clevinger, Dinelson Lamet, Zach Davies
Bullpen: Trevor Rosenthal, Drew Pomeranz, Emilio Pagán, Matt Strahm, Tim Hill, Garrett Richards, Chris Paddack, Pierce Johnson, Austin Adams, Adrian Morejon, Craig Stammen, Dan Altavilla

What are the most important playoff roster battles?

The biggest battle is unfolding in the bullpen, where the Padres have gotten a huge boost from the addition of Rosenthal and the returns of Pomeranz and Pagán from the injured list. No. 5 starter Richards has already moved to the bullpen, and it’s worth wondering whether the Friars would include No. 4 starter Paddack on the roster for the three-game Wild Card Series if he weren’t scheduled for a start.

• How they got there: SD's 1st playoffs since '06

Offensively, the Padres’ roster is mostly set, but there’s probably one bench spot available. That could go to a righty bat like Oña. It might go to a defensive specialist like Greg Allen. Or the Padres might simply carry another bullpen arm.

When must the Padres set their roster?

Postseason rosters, like the regular season, will be comprised of 28 players. Each team must set their roster on the morning each round begins.

What's the schedule for the Wild Card Series?

In the National League, all four Wild Card Series begin Wednesday, Sept. 30, and take place over three consecutive days. Game 2 is slated for Oct. 1, and Game 3 -- if necessary -- would take place on Oct. 2.

• Postseason schedule

• Postseason standings

What is the Padres' Wild Card Series rotation?

They've yet to announce it, but Lamet, Davies and possibly Clevinger are lined up to start, in that order. Lamet and Clevinger, however, are dealing with arm ailments, and their status for the first round remains unclear. If one of them is unavailable, Paddack would presumably slot into a starting role.

What happens if the Padres advance?

The final three rounds of the postseason will take place at neutral sites, and the Padres could be lined up to play the bulk of October in Arlington, Texas.

They'd play the NL Division Series at Globe Life Field -- potentially against the Dodgers. The NL Championship Series and World Series are also slated for Globe Life Field.

Any injuries of note that could affect the playoff roster?

Clevinger (elbow impingement) and Lamet (biceps tightness) are still question marks. With their status in doubt, it’s possible the Padres carry an extra arm or two on their roster, just to be safe.