MILWAUKEE -- In an ideal world for the Padres, they would be entering Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Brewers with a 1-0 lead. But after missed opportunities culminated in a 3-2 loss on Saturday night, they still go into Sunday’s matinee confident they can send the series to San Diego tied up.
The reason? Look no further than on the mound.
Right-hander Michael King, who flirted with a no-hitter in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, is slated to start. Five days after he held the Cubs hitless into the seventh inning, he'll be aiming to carry that momentum to American Family Field.
“We’re lucky to have him going into Game 2, and [we] feel really good about it,” said manager Craig Stammen.
King has been the driving force of the Padres' rotation. He went 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.18 WHIP while leading the club in wins, innings pitched (185) and strikeouts (159). King is 3-0 in five playoff starts, tied for the lead in Padres’ all-time postseason wins with Yu Darvish and Sterling Hitchcock.
“He’s definitely been our leader on the pitching staff for the entire season,” Stammen said. “[He] made every start, pitched really well, [he’s] coming off a great outing against the Cubs in the Wild Card Series.”
In that Game 1 shutout against the Cubs, King became just the sixth pitcher since 2010 to have a no-hitter going 6 1/3 innings into a start, per the Elias Sports Bureau. He threw the longest postseason individual no-hit bid since 2019, when Aníbal Sánchez delivered 7 2/3 hitless frames in the NLCS for the Nationals.
“He believes in himself, and that’s what you want from every pitcher,” said Stammen. “You want them to want the ball, keep it, stay in the game and not let the manager take it from you.”
In his one start against the Brewers this season, King allowed one run on six hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and got a no-decision in the Padres’ May 13 road win.
“They’re going to try to make us play that Brewer style of baseball,” said King. “And if they can speed it up and speed me up on the mound, then they’re going to win. So it’s all about slowing the game down, making sure that I stay in control and we stay in control as a defense to shut down their ... I guess I’ll call them antics, but it’s just playing baseball well.”
King had Petco Park behind him in the Wild Card Series. Sunday will be a different scene. American Family Field was rocking with an announced sold-out crowd of 42,843 for Game 1, and King expects a similar atmosphere for Game 2.
“I think as a competitor, it’s just as exciting to hear your home fans cheer as it is to hear it silent in the opposing park,” said King. “That’s obviously the goal, to get the momentum quick, play Padre baseball and stay on the attack.”
King posted a 3.64 ERA on the road compared to 2.74 at home this season. Sunday will be his first postseason start on the road and his second career road playoff appearance overall.
In Game 3 of last season's Wild Card Series, he pitched one scoreless inning out of the bullpen with three strikeouts against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
“It’s a very fun thing when you make a pitch in a big moment and that crowd shuts down and the dugout goes nuts,” King said. “I don’t want to say it equally gives me that same amount of adrenaline [as Petco Park], but definitely you feel that energy.”
The Padres are coming off their first playoff defeat when outhitting their opponent in 20 years. They’ll put the ball in the hands of their ace to erase the sting of Saturday’s loss.
"We left it all out there; tomorrow's a different day,” said Manny Machado. “We've got King and we're confident in him. Go out there and try to get back to San Diego 1-1."