San Diego Padres fans received encouraging news ahead of their upcoming series, as starting pitcher Michael King is expected to be activated from the injured list and will take the mound Tuesday night against the Cincinnati Reds, per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Tribune.
King, who has been one of the most reliable arms in the Padres’ rotation this year, enters the matchup with a 4-2 record and an impressive 2.81 ERA across 11 starts. However, his season has been interrupted by multiple health setbacks. The right-hander has been sidelined since early August with inflammation in his left knee, and that brief outing in August marked his only appearance since May. Prior to the knee issue, King was also dealing with a nerve problem in his shoulder that limited his availability and disrupted his rhythm.
Despite the frustrating stop-and-go nature of his season, King emphasized that he feels ready not just to pitch, but to perform at a high level for a Padres team fighting to stay competitive.
“I probably was fine to pitch in a game, but now there’s expectations of winning every time out,” King said. “So I’m going to hold myself to that standard … every time I go out there.”
The Reds, meanwhile, will counter with right-hander Zack Littell, who is slated to get the start on Tuesday. The matchup will serve as a key test for King as he looks to re-establish himself and provide stability to San Diego’s rotation in the stretch run of the season.
Acee’s full report can be found below.
