SAN DIEGO -- If Michael King is well and truly back -- and come October, he’s the version of Michael King who dominated last postseason -- the Padres can stomach a loss like this one in early September.
That’s not to say it won’t sting.
Tyler Stephenson’s two-run homer off Robert Suarez in the ninth inning was the difference in the Reds’ 4-2 victory on Tuesday night at Petco Park. The loss came with unsavory playoff implications, as the Padres continue to chase home games in a potential Wild Card Series.
Both the Dodgers and Cubs won, dropping San Diego two games back of Los Angeles in the National League West race and three back of Chicago for the top Wild Card spot.
Nonetheless, King’s return was clearly the most impactful storyline of the night. He was the Padres’ Game 1 starter in the playoffs last year and their Opening Day starter in March. He has spent nearly all of the past 3 1/2 months on the injured list with two separate ailments -- first a nerve injury that sapped the strength in his right shoulder, then left knee inflammation that arose when he ramped up too quickly in his return.
“Being able to be back out there and contributing -- it’s great,” King said after five efficient innings on Tuesday night. “Especially feeling healthy, it’s a good feeling.”
A self-proclaimed nitpicker, King had nits to pick with his performance. He worked five innings, allowing two homers, while striking out only two. He was also remarkably efficient, allowing only two other baserunners, and requiring just 63 pitches. If the game hadn’t dictated otherwise, manager Mike Shildt noted he likely would’ve let King return to the mound for the sixth.
Sal Stewart took King deep in the first inning and Will Benson did the same in the second. Stephenson nearly went deep in the fourth -- five innings before his decisive homer in the ninth. But Fernando Tatis Jr. pulled off yet another spectacular robbery in right field, his fourth in the past 27 games at Petco Park (and, according to Tatis himself, his best yet).
In any case, both home runs, plus Stephenson’s would-be homer, came on fastballs from King that caught far too much plate. That’s atypical of King.
“There’s always a ton of room for improvement,” he said. “I always pride myself on fastball command. There were a lot of fastballs that I did not command today. I’m looking forward to that improving. But health-wise everything felt good. So I was happy about that.”
On Monday, when King’s return was formalized, he eschewed the notion of a reacclimation period. These games, King said, were too important for that. He wanted to hold himself to the standard of September baseball, regardless of the fact that he hadn’t made a full start in 3 1/2 months.
But in the aftermath of Tuesday’s outing -- which was solid, but not spectacular -- King acknowledged that the command that eluded him generally only comes with pitching in a rhythm. King has not been afforded that rhythm. Which, really, is what the next three weeks are about.
“The competition is the main thing I’ve been missing for the last, basically, three months,” King said. “I want to get that going.”
The playoffs start three weeks from Tuesday. With each day it looks likelier that the Padres will find themselves in a three-game Wild Card Series. (They’d like for it to be at home, but they’d presumably need to pass either the Dodgers or Cubs to make that happen.)
Nick Pivetta will start one of those games. The other two spots? Wide open. Which is why King’s return is so crucial for the Padres. Dylan Cease and Yu Darvish have been maddeningly inconsistent this season. It’s hard to envision a deep October run without King looking like the version of himself who posted a 2.59 ERA through 10 starts before he went down with injury.
Presumably, King has three more regular-season starts to find that version of himself. If he can find it earlier -- and the Padres win a couple extra games -- that might be the difference in their quest for a first division title in 19 years. But, with King at least, that’s not the primary objective.
In no uncertain terms, he’s building toward what lies ahead in three weeks’ time. And Tuesday’s return was a crucial first step.
“Really efficient, 63 pitches through five -- that’s Michael King right there,” Shildt said. “Couldn’t have been more thrilled.”