Michael King Fantasy Stats

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King is off to a strong start to the 2026 season, as he's recorded a 3-2 record with a 2.76 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts across 45 2/3 innings (eight starts). With an 11.1% walk rate, King's control remains a bit of a concern. However, the 30-year-old has gotten his ground ball rate back up to 45.8% this season after seeing it drop to a career-low 38.3% in 2025. As a result, King's HR/9 has dropped from 1.47 to 0.79, which is more in line with his career rate of 0.95. King was limited to just 15 starts in 2025 by shoulder and knee injuries, so health remains a potential red flag in his profile. Still, as long as King stays on the mound, he should provide reliable production for fantasy managers in 2026.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King is a high-risk, high-reward option in 2026 fantasy baseball drafts after re-signing a three-year deal in the offseason. In his first year in San Diego, King showed his upside with a sparkling 2.95 ERA, 3.33 FIP, and 1.19 WHIP to go with a career-high 201 strikeouts in 30 regular-season starts. Last year, though, he was held back by shoulder and knee injuries and was only able to make 15 starts, compiling a 3.44 ERA, 4.42 FIP, and 1.20 WHIP. His strikeout rate slipped a bit as well, and he finished with 76 punchouts in 73 1/3 innings. If he can stay healthy this year, King has the potential to be a fantasy ace, and he opens spring training with no restrictions. Some buzz from spring training suggests that the Padres may adopt a six-man rotation to mitigate their injury issues in the rotation, but this hasn't been officially announced yet. Drafting King for his upside is a good move in almost all formats, as long as you build in some extra depth in case injuries limit him again in 2026.

The San Diego Padres re-signed right-hander Michael King on a three-year, $75 million deal on Thursday night, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The deal includes a $12 million signing bonus, and then salaries of $5 million next year, a $28 million player option in 2027 ($5 million buyout), and a $30 million player option in 2028 (no buyout). It will either be worth $22 million for one year, $45 million for two seasons, or $75 million for three years. The 26-year-old was excellent in his first year in SD, sporting a 2.95 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with a career-high 201 strikeouts in 30 regular-season starts (173 2/3 frames). However, right-shoulder and knee injuries limited him to just 15 starts in 2025. King demonstrated in 2024 that he has the stuff to be a high-end fantasy starter in a good spot in SD, but that was also his only full season in the big leagues. It makes him a high-risk, high-reward pitching target in fantasy in 2026.

Free-agent right-hander Michael King appears to be the New York Mets' top rotation target this offseason, a source confirmed to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. King recently held a Zoom meeting with the Mets. President of baseball operations David Stearns is hesitant to sign a starting pitcher to a long-term deal of five or more years, according to sources, which could take them out of the market for other top starters this year, such as Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, and Tatsuya Imai. The 30-year-old King was excellent in his first year with the San Diego Padres in 2024, posting a 2.95 ERA in 173 2/3 innings, but injuries limited him to only 15 starts in 2025. King doesn't have the same reliable track record as other starters on the market, which is why he may not require a deal of at least five years. One talent evaluator said that King "may be the most talented starter on the market." For fantasy baseball managers, King will be a pretty big risk/reward in 2026.

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.