King (rehab start), Cortes (off IL) can give SD rotation sudden depth

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres are piecing their rotation puzzle back together.

The past three days have seen a flurry of transactions and major rotation news. Here’s the full breakdown:

King rehabs for El Paso
On Sunday, Michael King made his first rehab start as he works his way back from a thoracic nerve issue that affected the strength of his right shoulder. Pitching for Triple-A El Paso in a game at Round Rock, he worked 3 1/3 innings, allowing six runs while striking out five

It’s unclear whether King would need one more rehab start or whether he could return next weekend against the Red Sox. He threw 61 pitches on Sunday.

On Monday, he tossed three simulated innings at Petco Park. Afterward, manager Mike Shildt was asked about King’s return as it pertained to the Trade Deadline and the rest of the season.

“Whether we add … it’s going to be hard to expect anything better than Michael King,” Shildt said.

The Padres did add, of course. In a major way. But Shildt’s statement remains true. King posted a 2.59 ERA through 10 starts this year. He was their Game 1 starter in the postseason last year and their Opening Day starter this year.

It’s unclear whether King would need one more rehab start or whether he could return next weekend at Petco Park against the Red Sox.

Vásquez optioned amid new arrivals
Right-hander Randy Vásquez has been a staple of the Padres’ rotation through the first four months. But after a poor start on Saturday night, Vásquez was optioned to El Paso to clear space for new arrival Nestor Cortes.

Also joining the rotation at the Deadline was left-hander JP Sears, who is scheduled to make his Padres debut on Monday night in Arizona. That left little room for Vásquez, who always appeared to be the odd-man out, especially with King’s impending return.

Nonetheless, Vásquez’s season has been commendable. With the rotation in flux due to injuries, he helped keep it afloat, posting a 3.65 ERA in 21 starts.

Extra off-days through the dog days
After his dominant outing on Wednesday against the Mets, Yu Darvish touted the value of getting an extra rest day between starts. It’s certainly a sensible way for the Padres to operate, with King and Darvish in their rotation plans. (Darvish missed the first 3 1/2 months of the season due to right elbow inflammation.)

For the most part, the Padres will be able to use forthcoming off-days to get their starting pitchers extra rest. But they might eventually go with a six-man rotation for some portion of the dog days. A stretch with 13 games in 13 days begins Aug. 15.

That theoretical six-man rotation would include King, Darvish, Nick Pivetta, Dylan Cease, Sears and Cortes. It’s still unclear when Cortes will make his Padres debut. The club is mulling how to line up the rotation after Darvish’s scheduled start on Tuesday. King’s potential return could impact those plans.

“I’m just happy to be here,” Cortes said. “Just happy for the opportunity.”

Musgrove takes a step forward
Joe Musgrove won’t be joining the 2025 rotation. But on Saturday he took a major step in his return from Tommy John surgery when he threw his first bullpen session. Musgrove had previously played catch on the mound, but this was his first time throwing pitches to a catcher in a crouch. He threw 20 -- all fastballs.

Musgrove, who underwent surgery last October, is still holding out hope that he might be able to return down the stretch, potentially in a one- or two-inning bullpen role.

“With how I felt yesterday, I think I’m optimistic about a chance to pitch this year -- or at least a chance to be ready to pitch,” Musgrove said.

It’s not necessarily his call, and there’s a long way to go before he’s ready to take the mound in a game setting. But Musgrove admitted to feeling “antsy” the past couple days.

“Especially with the additions of the new guys, I want to be a part of this, really bad,” Musgrove said. “I feel like we have a good chance to go deep into this thing. If we get to that point, I want to be able to say I contributed in some fashion.”