San Diego Padres are poised for a late-season playoff push following a series of strategic trade acquisitions, currently holding a third-place position in the National League Wild Card race at 62-51 as of Tuesday. However, the team’s progress has been hampered by the extended absence of veteran pitcher Michael King, sidelined for over two months since his last start on May 18 against the Seattle Mariners.
King was subsequently placed on the 60-day injured list, marking a significant disruption to the Padres’ rotation. Manager Mike Shildt provided an encouraging update on Monday, preceding the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Mike Shildt Reveals Promising Michael King Update
King’s return to competitive action began with a successful rehabilitation start in Triple-A on Sunday, spanning 3.1 innings with six runs allowed and five strikeouts. Following this encouraging performance, Shildt offered a positive prognosis. “There’s a really good chance, I’m not going to put it in pen yet, but I’ll put it in dark pencil that he’s got a good chance for his next start to be for the Padres’ big league club,” Shildt stated.
King threw 61 pitches during the Sunday rehabilitation start, with Shildt emphasizing that the starter “feels good” and “felt good.” The 31-year-old pitcher had previously demonstrated a strong start to his second season with San Diego, recording a 4-2 record and a 2.59 ERA in 10 starts this season. Notably, King was acquired from the New York Yankees in a trade that included Juan Soto, contributing to the Padres’ bolstering of their roster.
What Does the Padres’ Rotation Look Like Right Now?
As of the current roster, the Padres’ rotation comprises: Yu Darvish, Dylan Cease, Nick Pivetta, and JP Sears (acquired from the Athletics). The team recently optioned Randy Vásquez to Triple-A El Paso after 22 starts with a 3-5 record and a 3.93 ERA, while also activating veteran left-hander Nestor Cortes, who was obtained from the Milwaukee Brewers at the deadline. This allows Shildt to potentially utilize a six-man rotation and provides valuable rest opportunities.
The Padres currently rank third in the major leagues in ERA (3.56), and the activation of King would undoubtedly strengthen this already impressive group as the season nears its conclusion. The rotation situation will require close monitoring over the next few days.
Related: Padres’ Mason Miller Open to Making Big Change After Dylan Cease Report
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 5, 2025.
Fuente: https://athlonsports.com/mlb/padres-manager-michael-king-injury-news-lengthy-absence