Michael King Seeks Redemption in Tuesday’s Game Against Guardians

San Diego, California — Michael King is looking to bounce back after a disappointing season opener when he takes the mound for the San Diego Padres against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m.

The 29-year-old right-hander struggled in his debut, allowing three runs on four hits, issuing four walks, and hitting two wild pitches over just 2.2 innings. Despite the rough outing, King is confident he has identified the issues affecting his performance, thanks to insights from pitching coach Ruben Niebla.

“That was the first conversation I had the next day,” King said on Monday. “We talked about the bullpen coming up, what we wanted to work on. It was basically just my torso positioning, and once I corrected that, I felt like my mechanics improved and I was more in control.”

The Padres enter Tuesday’s matchup with a franchise-best five consecutive wins to start the season. However, they will face their first left-handed starter of the year, prompting adjustments in the lineup. Brandon Lockridge and Yuli Gurriel are set to return to the starting roster for the first time since opening day, while Jose Iglesias will make his first start of the season at second base.

After going 2-for-7 with a key home run against lefties, Jake Cronenworth is getting a day off to rest. Iglesias, a 35-year-old veteran, shared his thoughts on the team’s depth.

“It’s pretty deep,” Iglesias said Tuesday afternoon. “We have guys with experience. We have (Martín) Maldonado, we have Yuli. It’s important to have depth, experience, and good people in the clubhouse. If you want to win, you must have those guys inside.”

Iglesias succeeded Machado on Saturday after the third baseman suffered a calf cramp. He is scheduled to bat seventh in Tuesday’s game, sitting between Gurriel and Lockridge.

Additionally, Padres catcher Elias Díaz will get the start behind the plate. The team announced that Tyler Wade cleared waivers and accepted a reassignment to Triple-A El Paso. The fate of infielder Eguy Rosario, who was also designated for assignment, remains uncertain as the Padres explore trade options.

On the pitching side, the Guardians will send left-hander Logan Allen to the mound for his 2025 debut. The 26-year-old experienced a significant increase in his ERA last season, and he struggled in his previous outing against the Padres, giving up five runs on four hits and four walks across three innings.

Meanwhile, King aims to improve from his opening day performance against the Guardians, against whom he holds a solid career ERA of 0.51 over 17.2 innings, including a strong outing last July where he struck out six while allowing just one run over seven innings.

As the Padres gear up for the evening matchup, fans are hoping for a turnaround for King and continued success for the team.