Michael King threw 44 pitches across three innings in a simulated game Saturday, his latest step back from knee inflammation that’s kept the Padres starter sidelined since mid-August.
The 30-year-old right-hander is eligible to return from the 15-day IL on Tuesday, but according to RotoWire, San Diego doesn’t expect him to be ready by then. He’ll likely need more time before rejoining the rotation.
It’s been a frustrating stretch for King, who only managed one start after returning from a much longer absence. He’d spent time on the 60-day IL with a right shoulder and long thoracic nerve issue in his throwing arm before coming back Aug. 8.
One game later, the knee flared up.
“I probably just pushed it a little too hard in the ramp-up,”
King told MLB.com’s Threo DeRosa and AJ Cassavell. The Padres placed him back on the IL retroactive to Aug. 14, taking what they saw as necessary precautions with their $7.75 million starter.
When healthy, King’s been everything San Diego hoped for this season. Through 11 starts and 57.2 innings, he’s put up a 4-2 record with a 2.81 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts. Those numbers would slot in nicely with a rotation that includes Nick Pivetta, Dylan Cease, and Yu Darvish.
The timing matters for a Padres team eyeing October. Getting King back healthy – and keeping him that way – could make the difference in their postseason hopes.
Saturday’s sim game seems like a step in the right direction, even if it means waiting a bit longer than originally hoped.
