Michael King remains the steady presence in the San Diego Padres starting rotation as the team fights to stay in the National League playoff race. The right-hander has earned the trust of the club over the past three seasons despite occasional struggles. With the trade deadline approaching, his consistency stands out amid rotation instability.
The Padres enter their Tuesday series opener against the Rockies one and a half games out of a Wild Card spot. They swept the Marlins over the weekend but know more wins are needed to secure a postseason berth.
King has been the only Padres starter to pitch six innings since June 3, achieving that mark six times. He posted a 1.96 ERA over his past four starts, including six innings of one-run ball against the Braves.
Injuries to Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove and Lucas Giolito have forced manager Craig Stammen to use creative pitching strategies. King said after his last start, “We got to start stringing together some wins. It’s crazy, because I think of how poorly we’ve played and I look and we’re still in it.”
Stammen praised King’s competitiveness, noting that he gives the team a chance to win even without his best stuff. The 31-year-old became a full-time starter with San Diego in 2024.
