Padres Place Michael King on 15-Day Injured List with Shoulder Inflammation

San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King was scratched from his scheduled Saturday start against the Atlanta Braves due to right shoulder stiffness, which the team attributed to sleeping awkwardly. The Padres placed King on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, but the injury is not believed to be serious, and the team hopes he will return soon. Forced into a bullpen game, the Padres struggled both on the mound and at the plate, ultimately losing 7-1 to the Braves, marking their seventh loss in eight games and continuing their slump with runners in scoring position. Relievers Sean Reynolds, Wandy Peralta, Alek Jacob, and Yuki Matsui filled in, but the Braves capitalized on both soft and hard hits, while San Diego was 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The Padres currently sit in third place in the NL West but remain close in the playoff race. Manager Mike Shildt emphasized caution with King's recovery, and updates on his status will continue as the team seeks to rebound in the series.