Padres' Michael King Rebounds with Strong Outing Before Playoffs

Michael King, a right-handed pitcher for the San Diego Padres, has experienced a challenging season marked by injuries and inconsistent performances. After struggling in a start against the New York Mets where he gave up eight runs in three innings, King rebounded with a strong outing against the Chicago White Sox, pitching five scoreless innings with four walks and four strikeouts. Despite some mechanical timing issues and bouts of inconsistency, Padres manager Mike Shildt and pitching coach Ruben Niebla remain confident in King's ability to refine his performance and contribute effectively in the playoffs. King's season has involved multiple stints on the injured list due to a nerve impingement near his right shoulder and knee inflammation, impacting his rhythm and command, particularly with his fastball. The Padres are hopeful King will continue to improve as he prepares for his next start against the Diamondbacks, with his role in the postseason rotation still to be determined. King himself acknowledges the need to prove his readiness and maintain consistency moving forward.