Michael King Fantasy Stats

ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that if not for injuries that limited him to 15 starts in 2025, free-agent right-hander Michael King "might be at the top of the free-agent pitcher's list." King is likelier to land a contract in the range of Nathan Eovaldi's three-year, $75 million deal from last offseason. High- and low-revenue teams are expected to be in on King, who would probably fetch a nine-figure contract if he had stayed healthy this past season. A shoulder injury limited the 30-year-old to 15 starts for the San Diego Padres this year. He went 5-3 with a 3.44 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 76 strikeouts for the Friars in 73 1/3 innings pitched. King was pretty nasty in 2024 in SD, posting a 2.95 ERA with 201 K's in 30 starts, but that has been his only full season as a starter, raising concerns about his durability in both real life and for fantasy purposes.

As expected, San Diego Padres right-hander Michael King declined his side of a $15 million mutual option for the 2026 season on Sunday, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. King will now become a free agent this offseason. The 30-year-old veteran finished the 2024 season as the Padres' most dominant starter, but he was unable to capture that magic in his second year with the team in 2025, mainly due to injuries. He only ended up making 15 starts in the regular season and posted a 3.44 ERA (4.42 FIP), 1.20 WHIP, 76 strikeouts, and 26 walks in 73 1/3 innings pitched. King now seeks a multi-year contract on the open market, and he's unlikely to return to San Diego in 2026. When healthy, he was a strong fantasy asset the last two years in SD, compiling an 18-12 record, 3.10 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 277:89 K:BB in 247 frames over 46 outings (45 starts).

San Diego Padres right-hander Michael King will be available out of the bullpen during the entire wild-card series at Wrigley Field this week against the Chicago Cubs, according to manager Mike Shildt. Right-hander Nick Pivetta will start Game 1 on Tuesday, followed by right-hander Dylan Cease in Game 2 on Wednesday. If necessary, right-hander Yu Darvish will likely get the nod in a deciding Game 3 on Thursday. King only made 15 starts in 2025 after missing the majority of the year, first with a right-shoulder injury and then a knee ailment. The 30-year-old made just five starts after injuring his shoulder in May and wasn't good, recording a 6.11 ERA with 12 strikeouts and nine walks in 17 2/3 innings to close out the year. He finished the year 5-3 with a 3.44 ERA (4.42 FIP) with 76 strikeouts and 26 walks in 73 1/3 innings. If the Padres advance to the National League Division Series, King could rejoin the starting rotation.

The San Diego Padres announced on Tuesday that they have officially activated right-hander Michael King (knee) from the 15-day injured list and optioned right-handed reliever Alek Jacob to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move. King will make his return from the IL to face the Reds at Petco Park on Tuesday evening and will have much more risk than normal in starting fantasy lineups. The 30-year-old was San Diego's best pitcher to close out last season, but he's made only 11 starts in 2025 due to shoulder and knee injuries, including just one start since May 18. The Padres believe that four starts to close out the regular season for King will be enough for him to give them what they want if they make it to the postseason, but that doesn't mean he'll be very efficient in his first big-league start since Aug. 9. Tread carefully with King.

San Diego Padres right-hander Michael King (knee) is expected to return from the 15-day injured list and start on Tuesday versus the visiting Cincinnati Reds at Petco Park, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. It would give King four starts before a potential postseason appearance for the Friars, which the Padres think is sufficient ramp-up for King to give them what they need in October. While King will be extra risky in starting fantasy lineups on Tuesday in his first start back, he'll also be lined up for a two-start week with a second appearance coming against the last-place Colorado Rockies on Sunday at home. The 30-year-old has made just one start since late May after also missing extended time with a right-shoulder injury. King was SD's best pitcher to close out last year, but he'll be a wild card upon his return given his injury-plagued 2025 campaign.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King (knee) is trending towards returning to the mound next week. On Thursday, King made a start in the Arizona complex league. He tossed five innings and appears to have pitched well enough that he's on the verge of returning to the big league mound. King reportedly pushed to pitch against the Colorado Rockies this week, but the Padres took the cautious approach instead. It's possible that King makes a start during the series against the Cincinnati Reds early next week. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update.

San Diego Padres right-hander Michael King (knee) threw a bullpen session at Petco Park on Monday. The team is now determining next steps for the 30-year-old, according to manager Mike Shildt. King has been on the 15-day injured list since Aug. 11 with inflammation in his left knee. He also missed two and a half months earlier in the season with shoulder troubles. The injuries have limited King to 11 starts and 57 2/3 innings, but he has stood out with a 2.81 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts against 19 walks. He's expected to return to the Padres' rotation in the near future as the team vies for a playoff berth.

San Diego Padres right-hander Michael King (knee) threw four innings in a simulated game on Friday and is on the verge of returning to the team's rotation. The Padres could activate King from the 15-day injured list during their Sept. 1-3 series against the Baltimore Orioles. King has been on the shelf since Aug. 14 with left-knee inflammation - an injury he suffered in his first start back after he missed two and a half months with shoulder problems. The 30-year-old has been a difference-maker when healthy in 2025, having recorded a 2.81 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP and 65:19 K:BB in 57 2/3 innings. King could make a notable impact for the Padres, who are two games back of the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, and fantasy managers in the final month of the regular season.

San Diego Padres right-hander Michael King (knee) will throw at least one more simulated game before being activated off the injured list, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. King threw 44 pitches in a three-inning sim game on August 23. At this time, it's unclear how the Padres plan to approach the Kings' rehab and whether he needs to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the Padres' rotation. King has made just one big-league start since May 18, so it's likely that when he returns, he will be on a pitch count or a bit rusty. The start he made after his return from the shoulder injury, on August 9 against the Boston Red Sox, was the outing that caused the knee discomfort that landed him on the injured list shortly after. Fantasy managers should continue to stash King on their IL and hope for a return sometime next week to help them with their playoff run.

San Diego Padres right-hander Michael King (knee) threw a three-inning, 44-pitch simulated game on Sunday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. King came out of the session unscathed, though it's unclear if he'll rejoin the Padres during the upcoming week or go on a rehab assignment. The 30-year-old landed on the 15-day injured list with left-knee inflammation on Aug. 11, continuing an injury-ravaged season. King missed two-plus months with shoulder troubles and lasted just two innings in his first start back on Aug. 9, a 5-4 win over the Boston Red Sox, before succumbing to another injury. The recovery this time has been "way more straightforward," according to King. Although he has only totaled 11 starts this season, King has made an impact. He's 4-2 with a 2.81 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts against 19 walks over 57 2/3 innings.