Padres Beat Braves 4-0 in Wild Card Opener

San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt's decision to start Michael King in Game 1 of the Wild Card round against the Atlanta Braves proved to be a masterstroke, leading to a 4-0 victory. King delivered an outstanding performance, pitching seven scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts, making him the first pitcher in MLB history to achieve this in their postseason debut. This win not only gave the Padres momentum going into Game 2 but also allowed them to avoid a win-or-go-home situation, aided by a well-rested bullpen. King's journey from a struggling rookie with the Yankees to a top pitcher for the Padres highlights his remarkable development, finishing the regular season with a 2.95 ERA and 201 strikeouts. The Braves faced challenges, including injuries to key players and fatigue from a doubleheader, contributing to their defeat. Overall, King's emergence has made the Padres a formidable playoff contender, with expectations of a deep postseason run.