After acknowledging he rushed his last comeback, Padres pitcher Michael King is taking a more cautious approach this time as he prepares to rejoin the rotation on Tuesday night against the Cincinnati Reds. King had previously returned in early August after a nerve issue affected his pitching shoulder, but the early return led to knee inflammation and another trip to the injured list.
Now, fully recovered and taking his time with rehab, King is hoping to contribute meaningfully as the Padres chase a postseason berth. He’ll be on the mound looking to help San Diego secure a series win over Cincinnati after a dramatic 4-3 extra-innings victory on Monday.
King (4-2, 2.81 ERA) only managed a short outing in his last start on Aug. 9, throwing 57 pitches over two innings against the Red Sox. This time, the plan is for him to throw between 75 and 80 pitches. He’s recently completed a five-inning simulated game at the Padres’ Arizona facility and feels more prepared heading into this outing.
“I just want to help the team however I can these next two months,” King said. “Every time I pitch, I expect to win. I’m not treating these like rehab starts anymore.”
The Padres (79-65) are just one game behind the Dodgers in the NL West, making every game down the stretch critical. King holds a solid track record against the Reds, with a 2.53 ERA across four appearances.
Cincinnati (72-72), meanwhile, is clinging to slim playoff hopes and can’t afford to lose ground. They trail the Mets by four games for the final NL wild card spot. Right-hander Zack Littell (9-8, 3.81 ERA) will start for the Reds. He struggled in his last outing, allowing five runs in just over four innings against Toronto, but earlier this season he beat the Padres while pitching for the Rays.
The Reds looked poised for a win in Monday’s opener after taking a 3-0 lead, but their bullpen couldn’t hold it. San Diego’s relievers dominated late, allowing just one hit over the final 4 1/3 innings to seal the extra-innings win.
Reds manager Terry Francona emphasized the urgency of the moment but was realistic about expectations.
“You can’t just flip a switch and suddenly play with more urgency,” Francona said. “But we know what the standings say, and we need wins.”