Braves, after clinching finally probability, open playoffs in San Diego

Michael King was one of the assets the San Diego Padres obtained when they traded Juan Soto to the New York Yankees in December, and there was uncertainty regarding the role he would fill.

King made 49 appearances for New York in 2023, and only nine were starts. However, San Diego badly needed a starter after seeing Blake Snell (the 2023 National League Cy Young Award winner), Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha all depart as free agents.

Nearly 10 months later, there is no debate about King’s role. The 29-year-old right-hander will start Game 1 of the best-of-three NL wild-card series when the fourth-seeded Padres host the fifth-seeded Atlanta Braves on Tuesday evening.

Atlanta had uncertain pitching plans after squeezing into the postseason at the last opportunity on Monday.

King went 13-9 in 31 appearances (30 starts) during the regular season and ranked fourth in the NL in ERA (2.95) and fifth in strikeouts (201). He gave up two or fewer earned runs in 23 of his 30 starts.

“He’s pitched exceptionally well,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said Monday. “He’s up there in ERA … and he’s able to navigate both sides of the plate with his arsenal. Michael is really nasty and he’s competed very well.”

Shildt said he informed King on Saturday that he would be the Game 1 starter. Joe Musgrove will start Game 2 on Wednesday and fellow right-hander Dylan Cease will pitch Game 3, if necessary, on Thursday.

Tuesday will mark King’s second career postseason appearance. He pitched two perfect innings of relief for the Yankees in Game 3 of the 2020 American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

That series was played in San Diego during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ballpark was empty. Now Petco Park is considered to have one of the top environments in the majors, and King is looking forward to the atmosphere.

“It’s incredibly uncomfortable for a team to come into,” King said of the raucous environment. “It’s going to be a very tough time for our opponent. I can’t wait to turn up my PitchCom (device) and make sure I can hear everything. It’s going to be a fun time (Tuesday night).”

King has faced Atlanta just once in his career, and that occurred last season with the Yankees. He pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief 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 in the first game and lost 8-7 before wrapping up the postseason bid with a 3-0 victory in the second game.

Ace Atlanta left-hander Chris Sale (18-3, 2.38 ERA) was unavailable for the doubleheader due to back spasms that affected him in his previous start on Sept. 19 against the Cincinnati Reds. Braves manager Brian Snitker said he doesn’t expect Sale to pitch in the series against San Diego.

The Braves boarded their long flight from Atlanta to San Diego on Monday night without declaring who would start Game 1. Promoting a pitcher from Triple-A Gwinnett is one of the options.

Star first baseman Matt Olson wasn’t overly concerned about the situation his club is facing, as the Braves were injury-riddled all year.

The biggest offensive loss was 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr., who sustained a season-ending knee injury in May. Slugger Austin Riley (broken hand) also is done for the year, while three-time All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies recently returned from a fractured wrist.

Among the pitching losses was standout right-hander Spencer Strider, who made two starts at the outset of the season before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery.

“Everybody battles through injuries throughout the year,” Olson said Monday. “You get hyper-focused on it when it’s yourself. … Nobody on the outside cares. We never used it as an excuse. Those are obviously some big names in the game and guys with some stats on their baseball cards. But we never let it faze us and we continued to grind.”

The Padres went 4-3 against the Braves this season.

–Field Level Media