This...is what the Padres wanted when they traded Juan Soto. They wanted an immediate answer at a key position. Prospects helped, yes. The possibility of Jhony Brito and Randy Vazquez was nice, there were other players that could be something...but Michael King already worked as a starting option, and he just needed a place where there'd always be an opportunity for him.
Unsurprisingly, Michael King has been fantastic ever since joining the Padres. Last year he got Cy Young votes, went 13-9 and struck out 200. A fun stat as far as King is concerned is that since 2022 he's yet to finish with an ERA higher than 3. Last season he ended up with a 2.95 ERA, and currently he has a 2.57 ERA, with 3 wins and 31 Ks. This is some ace quality material from King, which is important because right now three guys who would normally be designated as ace, Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Dylan Cease, are either hurt or struggling. Cease is healthy, but...is he? He's got a 6.04 ERA. Have the past few wonderful seasons caught up with him? King has held up very well so far, and seems to be a big game guy for this team.
...as is Nick Pivetta. I bet a lot of people were confused when the Padres spent a lot of money on Pivetta during the offseason. Pivetta's been fine with the Red Sox, but, as I could tell when he pitched for Philly, he has his limits, and sometimes he'll just give you a bad start. But the Padres got a very good read on Pivetta, and that struck a chord with me. So I took a flyer on him for my fantasy team. So far that's been a very good decision. Pivetta's currently 4-1, with a 1.20 ERA and 30 Ks. Last night he kept the Tigers down in a rare game during that series that went the Padres' way. Pivetta, King, and Randy Vazquez have been a big part of the Padres' rise so far--even without the proven arms the rotation was built on.
The Padres are circling the top of the division, and it's thanks to Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis and Xander Bogaerts doing exactly what they were put on this team to do. Losing Merrill for a spell hurts, but there's enough power and production in this lineup to tide the team over until he comes back. As good as this team is, I see them getting better as more and more people return, and more and more nice pieces join the cause. I say this knowing that currently someone on this team has hit 8 home runs, and it's the guy regarded as the team's best player. They're doing fine obviously, but to win this division, against the Dodgers, they're gonna need to be better.
Michael King could be the key to the upset. If he keeps it up.
Coming Tomorrow- After missing a couple weeks with an injury, I do not think this was the team he thought he'd be joining.
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