Padres tab Cease, Darvish for Games 2 and 3 against Cubs
This browser does not support the video element.
CHICAGO -- Padres manager Mike Shildt formalized his Wild Card Series rotation plans during Monday’s workout day at Wrigley Field, naming Dylan Cease as his Game 2 starter and Yu Darvish as the likely starter in a Game 3, if necessary.
That leaves right-hander Michael King to pitch out of the bullpen, where Shildt said he would be available for the entirety of the National League Wild Card Series against the Cubs. The series begins on Tuesday afternoon, with Nick Pivetta on the mound for the Padres in Game 1.
“Dylan’s been good, thrown the ball more consistently lately,” said Shildt. “... He’s thrown the ball well here. He’s thrown the ball well against this club. And he’s Dylan Cease. He’s got a big arm. He’s the guy that we feel is best suited for Game 2.”
Essentially, the Padres had four starters to choose from for two rotation spots behind Pivetta. It was going to be a gamble, no matter who they settled on. In selecting Cease and Darvish, they’re banking on experience and the fact that both have pitched better down the stretch. Because the raw numbers from King and fellow right-hander Randy Vásquez have been much better over the course of the season.
This browser does not support the video element.
It’s been a mostly disappointing year for Cease, who posted a 4.55 ERA in 32 starts. Same goes for Darvish, who missed the majority of the first half on the injured list with inflammation in his right elbow. He recorded a 5.38 ERA in 15 outings.
Of course, if either of them were to struggle early, the Padres boast one of the deepest bullpens in baseball -- and they now have two length arms to add to that mix, in King and Vásquez. Shildt said last week that all five starters would be on the Wild Card Series roster.
King and Vásquez have experience pitching regularly out of the bullpen, as recently as 2023 with the Yankees, before they were acquired in the Juan Soto deal. If the Padres were to advance, both would be in play for a start in the NL Division Series against the Brewers.
“I’ll be very happy with whatever role I’m given,” King said after his final start of the season -- 2 2/3 scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks on Saturday night. “... Obviously, I prefer starting. But [pitching out of the bullpen] is like riding a bike.”
This browser does not support the video element.
It’s almost certain that King’s stop-and-start summer played a role in the Padres’ decision to leave him out of the rotation. He missed nearly 3 1/2 months with a pair of injuries and only made four starts upon his return, never throwing more than 70 pitches.
The shortened nature of King’s final start would seem to make him available for the entire Wild Card Series -- though San Diego would prefer to shy away from using him in Game 1 anyway.
Pivetta has been by far the Padres’ most reliable starter, in terms of performance and in terms of length. Their clearest path to a Wild Card Series victory starts with a strong outing from Pivetta in Game 1, which could allow them to be more aggressive in the bullpen in Games 2 and 3.
“It's always important to get off to a hot start,” said Pivetta. “But it's not making things too big. I think it's just going out believing in my talents, believing in what I've done this year and just going out and executing my game plan.”
The Padres have a deep stable of relief arms, who they’ve trusted with the middle and late innings all season. It’s far likelier that an appearance from King would come in a Game 2 or 3, with shorter leashes expected for the two starters.
Cease, for example, has been much better in his first trip through a lineup this season (.606 opponents’ OPS) than his second (.802) and third (.790). Having King available could allow Shildt to go to his bullpen each game without overtaxing his high-leverage arms -- a key factor with the possibility of three games in three days.
This browser does not support the video element.
If, for example, the Padres were to lean heavily on their back-end arms -- Robert Suarez, Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada -- in Game 1, they have, in King, a valuable option to cover the middle innings in Game 2.
“It's another weapon,” Shildt said. “Again, we've got bullpen guys that clearly have gotten us here that we trust. And Michael will be used appropriately, relative to the guys that have the experience and have done well in that role. The spot [will] present itself, potentially this series, for Michael to show up.”