WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Yankees got what they hope is a preview of how their late innings will look come the regular season, with Jonathan Loáisiga and Clay Holmes each working a scoreless frame to close out Tuesday’s 6-3 win over Detroit. Next, it was time for the middle innings, and if they go anything like they did on Wednesday, the Yanks will be in good shape.

This after another dominant Michael King outing highlighted New York’s 5-2 loss to the Nationals at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The righty fireman needed only 17 pitches to breeze through 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Inheriting a three-run deficit from Clarke Schmidt in the fourth, King flashed the wipeout stuff and pinpoint command that made him a breakout star in 2022 in what was his longest outing of the spring. He was so efficient that he headed to the bullpen for additional work after his outing was over.

“It was good that he got three 'ups,'” manager Aaron Boone said. “Another good day for him.”

It was the latest in a string of encouraging outings for King, who recovered from last year’s scary right elbow injury and has been virtually unhittable in Grapefruit League play, logging 8 1/3 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. He’s allowed only five baserunners across those five appearances. King's performance has Boone salivating about the impact his return will have come the regular season.

“I still think he has another gear to get to,” Boone said. “I’ve certainly been pleased with how he looks and how he's throwing the ball. The stuff is there. The scary part is I still think there's a little room in there for him to [be better]. It has been really encouraging to see how his winter unfolded and how he’s doing. It’s a credit to him, how he works. Everything he does has put him in a good position.”

Asked what another gear would look like for King, who emerged as one of the most dominant relievers in baseball last season, Boone smirked.

“He’s almost there,” Boone said. “I always feel like, when he doesn’t wipe [opposing hitters] out, I’m like, ‘What happened?’ I just think there's another incremental level he can get to, but obviously the results have been great.”

Simply getting last year’s version of King would be great for the Yankees, who never found a true replacement after he fractured his elbow on July 23. As a result, their bullpen struggled down the stretch and into the postseason. King was arguably the most valuable reliever in the game before the injury, pitching to a 2.29 ERA with 66 strikeouts and just 16 walks over 51 innings across 34 appearances, all while giving Boone an electric multi-inning fireman he could call upon in almost any situation.

After King underwent surgery to repair the fracture, he learned in September he would not require Tommy John surgery, which would’ve sidelined the righty for the entire 2023 season. His return is even more important to the Yankees this spring with key relievers Tommy Kahnle and Lou Trivino set to open the season on the injured list, and by all accounts, it’s going swimmingly.

That could be bad news for the rest of the Major Leagues.

“It's tough to come back from injuries and pick up right where you left off, especially a gruesome injury like he had,” said Schmidt, who allowed three runs on six hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings in his penultimate spring start. “It doesn't look like he missed a beat. He looks really good. He's back in the zone competing with good stuff like he always does. He's going to be a big weapon for us this year.”