Sep 30, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) hits a single in opposition to the New York Mets within the seventh inning at Truist Park. Obligatory Credit score: Brett Davis-Imagn Pictures
Michael King was one of many belongings the San Diego Padres obtained after they traded Juan Soto to the New York Yankees in December, and there was uncertainty relating to the position he would fill.
King made 49 appearances for New York in 2023, and solely 9 had been begins. Nonetheless, San Diego badly wanted a starter after seeing Blake Snell (the 2023 Nationwide League Cy Younger Award winner), Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha all depart as free brokers.
Almost 10 months later, there is no such thing as a debate about King’s position. The 29-year-old right-hander will begin Sport 1 of the best-of-three NL wild-card collection when the fourth-seeded Padres host the fifth-seeded Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.
Atlanta had unsure pitching plans after squeezing into the postseason on the final alternative on Monday.
King went 13-9 in 31 appearances (30 begins) throughout the common season and ranked fourth within the NL in ERA (2.95) and fifth in strikeouts (201). He gave up two or fewer earned runs in 23 of his 30 begins.
“He is pitched exceptionally properly,” Padres supervisor Mike Shildt mentioned Monday. “He is up there in ERA … and he is in a position to navigate either side of the plate together with his arsenal. Michael is de facto nasty and he is competed very properly.”
Shildt mentioned he knowledgeable King on Saturday that he could be the Sport 1 starter. Joe Musgrove will begin Sport 2 on Wednesday and fellow right-hander Dylan Stop will pitch Sport 3, if mandatory, on Thursday.
Tuesday will mark King’s second profession postseason look. He pitched two excellent innings of reduction for the Yankees in Sport 3 of the 2020 American League Division Sequence in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays.
That collection was performed in San Diego throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the ballpark was empty. Now Petco Park is taken into account to have one of many prime environments within the majors, and King is trying ahead to the environment.
“It is extremely uncomfortable for a staff to come back into,” King mentioned of the raucous atmosphere. “It is going to be a really powerful time for our opponent. I can not wait to show up my PitchCom (machine) and ensure I can hear every little thing. It is going to be a enjoyable time (Tuesday night time).”
King has confronted Atlanta simply as soon as in his profession, and that occurred final season with the Yankees. He pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless reduction and gave up one hit.
The Braves clinched a playoff berth for the seventh consecutive season by splitting a doubleheader with the New York Mets on Monday. Atlanta blew a ninth-inning lead within the first sport and misplaced 8-7 earlier than wrapping up the postseason bid with a 3-0 victory within the second sport.
Ace Atlanta left-hander Chris Sale (18-3, 2.38 ERA) was unavailable for the doubleheader because of again spasms that affected him in his earlier begin on Sept. 19 in opposition to the Cincinnati Reds. Braves supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned he does not count on Sale to pitch within the collection in opposition to San Diego.
The Braves boarded their lengthy flight from Atlanta to San Diego on Monday night time with out declaring who would begin Sport 1. Selling a pitcher from Triple-A Gwinnett is among the choices.
Star first baseman Matt Olson wasn’t overly involved concerning the state of affairs his membership is dealing with, because the Braves had been injury-riddled all yr.
The largest offensive loss was 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr., who sustained a season-ending knee damage in Might. Slugger Austin Riley (damaged hand) additionally is completed for the yr, whereas three-time All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies just lately returned from a fractured wrist.
Among the many pitching losses was standout right-hander Spencer Strider, who made two begins on the outset of the season earlier than present process season-ending elbow surgical procedure.
“Everyone battles by means of accidents all year long,” Olson mentioned Monday. “You get hyper-focused on it when it is your self. … No one on the skin cares. We by no means used it as an excuse. These are clearly some massive names within the sport and guys with some stats on their baseball playing cards. However we by no means let it faze us and we continued to grind.”
The Padres went 4-3 in opposition to the Braves this season.
–Area Stage Media