King (1-0) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing two hits and a walk over five scoreless innings in a 7-0 rout of the Guardians. He struck out 11.

EDGE Analysis

The Padres' pitching staff continues to roll, racking up its third shutout in the last four games, and King's performance was maybe the best one yet from the team's rotation. The right-hander generated 18 swinging strikes among his 88 pitches (56 total strikes) and didn't let a runner get past second base. King sports a 14:5 K:BB through his first 7.2 innings of 2025, and he'll look to remain dominant in his next start, which lines up to come on the road early next week against the A's.

King didn't factor into the decision Thursday against Atlanta, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

It was a shaky season debut for King, who needed 76 pitches to record just eight outs. He was ultimately forced out of the game in the third inning after giving up a two-run homer to Ozzie Albies. King will look to bounce back in his second outing, currently scheduled for next week against Cleveland. The 29-year-old right-hander was impressive last season, going 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 201 strikeouts.

King tossed five scoreless innings in a Cactus League start against the Cubs on Friday, allowing one hit and striking out four batters.

EDGE Analysis

In his final spring outing -- and his first since being named San Diego's Opening Day starter -- King was royal on the mound, allowing a single to the first batter he faced and then retiring 15 straight hitters. The righty had an up-and-down spring, but he concluded it on a superb note and finished the exhibition slate with a 3.95 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 13:7 K:BB over 13.2 frames. King's next appearance is slated to take place next Thursday against Atlanta in the Padres' regular-season opener.

Manager Mike Shildt announced Monday that King will start the Padres' March 27 season opener versus Atlanta, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

In a surprising decision, King is getting the ball instead of Dylan Cease, but the two are essentially co-aces for the Padres. King broke out in 2024 in his first full campaign in the big leagues as a starting pitcher, collecting a 2.95 ERA and 201:63 K:BB over 173.2 innings during the regular season.

King tossed two scoreless and hitless innings in Wednesday's Cactus League contest against Colorado, allowing two walks while striking out three batters.

EDGE Analysis

King didn't have great control in the outing -- only 17 of his 35 pitches were strikes -- but he didn't allow any hits and got six whiffs on the 11 swings against him. The right-hander is coming off a breakout 2024 campaign (his first with the Padres and his first as a full-time starter) during which he posted a 2.95 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 201:63 K:BB over 173.2 innings. King and Dylan Cease are expected to work as San Diego's top two hurlers in 2025.

The Padres and King avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4 million contract with a $15 million mutual option for 2026, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

The buyout on the option is $3.75 million, with the possibility of it reaching $8 million if he hits all his incentives. The structure of the deal provides the Padres with some payroll wiggle room, which could lessen the need to trade either King or Dylan Cease. The right-handed King collected a 2.95 ERA and 201:63 K:BB over 173.2 regular-season innings with the Padres in 2024.

Manager Mike Shildt said Friday that Yu Darvish will start in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Dodgers and King will come in "soon thereafter," Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Padres will roll with Dylan Cease and Darvish for Games 1 and 2 of the NLDS before likely turning to King for Game 3. King started in Game 1 of the wild-card series against Atlanta on Tuesday, which he was credited for the win after pitching seven scoreless innings while allowing five hits and striking out 12 batters. The Padres' rotation suffered a setback with Joe Musgrove being ruled out for the NLDS due to a UCL injury in his right elbow, which will require Tommy John surgery during the offseason.

King will start Game 1 of the wild-card series against Atlanta on Tuesday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Padres will ride the hot hand and deploy King in their first postseason action, as he posted a 2.11 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 40 strikeouts in his last seven starts of the regular season (38.1 innings). Joe Musgrove will get the call in Game 2 and Dylan Cease would draw the start in Game 3 if necessary.

King (13-9) got the win over the Dodgers on Tuesday, allowing one run (zero earned) on three hits and two walks while striking out three over five innings.

EDGE Analysis

The Dodgers made King work hard to get through five innings and he was done after needing 95 pitches. The lone run against him came off an error in the first inning. King then got out of a bases loaded jam in the second and then went nine up and nine down over the next three innings. King is on a miraculous run of allowing three runs or less in his last 14 starts and now sits at a 2.95 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 201:63 K:BB in 173.2 innings. He's tentatively lined up to make a start this weekend against the Diamondbacks but it's also possible the Padres skip him in order to save him up for the postseason.

King did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's loss to the Astros, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out seven in seven innings.

EDGE Analysis

The Astros got to King with four hits and a pair of runs in the fourth but were otherwise held in check. King reached seven innings for the first time since July 21 and has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last seven starts. For the year, King owns a 3.04 ERA, which ranks eighth among qualifiers and fourth in the National League. He'll look to continue rolling in a crucial matchup against the Dodgers next week.