Michael King will start Game 2 for the Padres against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday at American Family Field, and the matchup fits the profile he has built across this 2024 postseason. At 31, King has been one of San Diego’s most reliable arms, and the timeline now moves to another big road test, even if it is only his second postseason appearance away from home.
That matters because King has already shown he can carry pressure. He opened the 2024 postseason by striking out 12 Braves over seven shutout innings without a walk, then followed that with seven shutout innings and eight strikeouts against the Cubs in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series. He has won all three of his postseason starts, and the Padres are leaning on a pitcher who has repeatedly given them command, strikeouts and poise when the games have tightened.
King’s road challenge
The road element is what makes this start especially interesting. King’s only previous road playoff appearance came last year at Wrigley Field, when he struck out three in a scoreless frame. Sunday will be his second road postseason start, so the Padres are asking him to do it again in a louder, less familiar setting, with Milwaukee now sitting across from him instead of the atmosphere of Petco Park.
King said he welcomes that kind of assignment. He explained that, as a competitor, it is just as exciting to hear home fans cheer as it is to hear silence in an opposing park. He also said the aim is to get momentum quickly, play Padre baseball and stay on the attack. That is the tone the Padres want from him, especially in a postseason series where early control can shape everything.
Why the Padres trust him
Craig Stammen described King as locked in, focused and intense, adding that he tells him the East Coast in him comes out on those days. That is a useful way of framing a pitcher who seems to sharpen when the stakes rise and the crowd gets louder. For the Padres, that edge is part of the appeal. They are not just hoping for innings from King; they are expecting authority.
There is also a reminder of how close he has already come to something historic. In Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series, King allowed one hit and struck out eight over seven shutout innings, and the no-hit bid only ended when his pitch count reached 97 and he was removed after an infield single. Craig Stammen said the team was focused on winning the game, while also recognising that a piece of history was in play. That balance is the postseason in a nutshell: chase the moment, but do not lose the game trying to capture it.
A pitcher built for the moment
Michael King has given the Padres everything they could want so far: length, strikeouts and the ability to keep hitters uncomfortable. His last postseason outing against the Dodgers in Game 3 of the 2024 NLDS was less clean, as he allowed five runs in five innings, but the bigger picture still points to a starter the Padres trust in high-leverage games. He has been good enough to keep them alive, and, in this bracket, that is often the difference.
Manny Machado’s reaction to the near no-hitter showed how much these moments matter inside the clubhouse. He said he was angry when the hit spoiled the bid, but also made clear that he knew what was on the line and wanted to help make the play. That competitive urgency mirrors the tone around King’s start on Sunday. The Padres know the Brewers will not make it easy, but they also know they have a pitcher who has already handled some of the postseason’s biggest questions.
Now it shifts to Milwaukee. If King delivers again, the Padres will feel they have the kind of starter who can steady a series. If he does not, the conversation changes quickly. For now, though, the timeline is simple: Michael King gets the ball in Game 2, and the Padres are betting that his postseason form travels with him.
