It's been a productive, but somewhat disappointing season for the San Diego Padres' pitching staff in 2025.
Although Nick Pivetta has been able to put together his best season of his career in his first season with the Padres, other starters like Dylan Cease (6-11 record, 4.81 ERA) and Yu Darvish (3-5 record, 5.75 ERA) have struggled to put anything together in San Diego this season.
Heading into the final month of the regular season, Michael King has started in just 11 games in 2025, and there's uncertainty for the 30-year-old as he continues to rehab a knee injury.
Mike Shildt gives questioning update on Michael King
In the Padres' off day before heading to Denver to take on the Colorado Rockies, manager Mike Shildt provided an update to Michael King.
"Michael (King) is around the corner, but I don’t know what the depth of Michael looks like, what he’s going to be able to give us. Or when," the Padres manager mentioned. "But, like I said, we’ll figure it out. I’m confident of that."
King, 30, has battled injuries throughout the 2025 season. He missed nearly three months of the regular season while recovering from a shoulder nerve impingement. Once he returned in early August, he discovered knee inflammation after making just one start, and he's been on the 15-day IL ever since.
MORE: Padres' Mike Shildt updates Xander Bogaerts' injury return timeline
It's worth mentioning that King and the Padres have a $15 million mutual option to figure out at the end of this season, and these injuries that are piling up will be something the organization will take note of.
Although when healthy, King's put up productive numbers. In the 42 appearances he's made since getting traded to San Diego in 2023, he's got a 17-11 record, 2.92 ERA, and 1.16 WHIP while striking out 266 in 231.1 innings.