Fantasy News

• Padres' Michael King: Short start in loss

  Rotowire Apr 24, 2024

  King (2-2) took the loss Tuesday against the Rockies, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks while striking out five in 3.2 innings. King had given up just one run through three innings before things took a turn for the worst in the fourth. Two singles and an error loaded up the bases before King served up a grand slam to Brendan Rodgers to give the Rockies their first lead of the game. The damage didn't stop there, as King would then find himself with the bases loaded again in that same inning and walked in another run before finally being pulled. After flirting with a no-hitter his last time out, King had arguably his worst start of the year and has given mixed results through his first six outings. The 29-year-old now owns a 4.11 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 34:18 K:BB in 30.2 innings. He'll look to get back in the win column versus the Phillies this weekend.

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• Padres' Michael King: Fans 10 in tough loss

  Rotowire Apr 17, 2024

  King (2-1) took the loss Wednesday against the Brewers but struck out 10 and allowed a run on two hits and two walks over 7.2 innings. King held Milwaukee without a hit until the seventh inning, but the lone run of the game was charged to him after he exited in the eighth, as the bullpen allowed an inherited runner to score. The 28-year-old generated 17 swinging strikes on 109 pitches, and he now has two starts this season of at least seven frames. King has a difficult draw for his next turn through the rotation, as he currently lines up to face the Rockies at Coors Field early next week.

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• Padres' Michael King: Pummeled in no-decision

  Rotowire Apr 13, 2024

  King did not factor into the decision Friday against the Dodgers, allowing seven runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four. The Dodgers offense had a field day against King on Friday, launching four home runs -- a career worst for the Padres right-hander. King has struggled against the formidable Los Angeles lineup, allowing seven earned runs over 8.1 innings against them this season. The 28-year-old will look to bounce back in his next start, scheduled to come against the Brewers at home.

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• Padres' Michael King: Turns things around for first win

  Rotowire Apr 7, 2024

  King (1-0) earned the win against San Francisco on Saturday, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out four batters over seven scoreless innings. King came into the contest having allowed a massive 10 walks over 7.1 innings, so it was promising to see him emerge from Saturday's outing having allowed just one free pass. The improved control unsurprisingly made a substantial positive impact on his results, as the right-hander picked up his second win (the first came in relief) and first quality start. King is working as a full-time starter for the first time this season, so it was uncertain coming into the campaign what fantasy managers could expect from him. Based on his first two starts, it appears that limiting walks could be a key to King finding success in his first campaign with the Padres.

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• Padres' Michael King: Issues seven free passes

  Rotowire Mar 31, 2024

  King didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Giants, tossing four innings and yielding two runs on two hits and seven walks. He struck out six. King went through plenty of ups and downs in his first start of 2024, holding San Francisco to just two runs and two hits but walking a staggering seven batters. He's now allowed 10 walks in 7.1 innings this season and owns a 2.45 HR/9. While he'll be tough to trust moving forward, King could be worth a dart throw in daily formats as he's been an excellent source of strikeouts (13.5 K/9) thus far. King's tentatively lined up for a rematch with the Giants for his next start at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park.

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• Padres' Michael King: Earns win in relief in Padres debut

  Rotowire Mar 21, 2024

  King (1-0) gave up three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five batters over 3.1 innings in a win over the Dodgers on Thursday in Game 2 of the Seoul Series. King picked up the victory and racked up a healthy strikeout total in his first regular-season outing as a Padre, but the appearance wasn't smooth for the ex-Yankee. He made it through his first frame without giving up a run despite yielding a pair of hits, but Mookie Betts tagged the right-hander for a two-run homer in the fifth inning and drew a walk that led to another run on King's ledger in the seventh. Despite entering in the fourth frame, King ended up with an early-season starter's workload (75 pitches), and he's fully expected to hold down a rotation role moving forward. His work in relief Thursday was likely a one-off consequence of the Padres' next regular-season contest being one week away.

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• Padres' Michael King: Sharp in spring so far

  Rotowire Mar 4, 2024

  Through King's first two Cactus League appearances this spring, he's allowed no runs on two hits over five innings while posting a 4:0 K:BB. King's first spring appearance came in relief, and he pitched two scoreless frames against Cleveland after entering in the third inning. He then started against San Francisco in his second outing and breezed through three frames, allowing just one hit while striking out three batters. King came over from the Yankees in December in the trade that sent Juan Soto to New York, and the right-handed hurler is set to start for the Padres from the outset of the campaign. His final three seasons with the Yankees were impressive, as he tallied a 2.88 ERA (3.13 FIP), 1.15 WHIP and 255:72 K:BB over 219 frames, but only 15 of his 105 appearances during that span came as a starter.

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• Padres' Michael King: Avoids arbitration with new team

  Rotowire Jan 11, 2024

  King signed a one-year, $3.15 million contract with the Padres on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports. King was traded to San Diego in December as part of the deal that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees, and he's now officially under contract for the new season. King was moved from the bullpen into the Yankees' rotation toward the end of last season, allowing him to pitch a career-high 104.2 innings while still maintaining a 2.75 ERA. The 28-year-old righty will most likely remain a starter as he begins his tenure as a Padre.

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• Padres' Michael King: Sent to Friars

  Rotowire Dec 6, 2023

  The Yankees traded King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito and Kyle Higashioka to San Diego on Wednesday in exchange for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. King has put together two consecutive great seasons, logging a 2.60 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 155.2 innings since 2022. He's been used most often as a reliever throughout his career, though he was stretched out into a starting role during the second half of last year. Given the Padres' glaring need for rotation arms, it's likely King retains a starting job in 2024.

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• Yankees' Michael King: Gives up four runs in loss

  Rotowire Oct 1, 2023

  King (4-8) took the loss Sunday, allowing four runs on eight hits over four innings in a 5-2 loss against Kansas City. He struck out one. King had a rough game to end the season, as he had not allowed more than one earned run in his last seven starts dating back to Aug. 24. Solo home runs by Edward Olivares and Dairon Blanco in the fourth inning chased him from the outing after 71 pitches. The right-hander wrapped up the campaign with a 2.75 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 127 strikeouts across 104.2 innings, working both as a starter and reliever. His success switching between either role may afford the team flexibility with his position ahead of 2024.

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• Yankees' Michael King: Fans five in no-decision

  Rotowire Sep 26, 2023

  King did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing one hit and five walks over six scoreless innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out five. Tuesday was King's seventh straight start dating back to Aug. 24 after he began the season in the bullpen. He hasn't allowed more than one run in any of those outings while posting a 1.04 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 47:9 K:BB across 34.1 innings. However, King has thrown 100.2 innings this year, far exceeding his previous high of 63.1 in 2021, so there's a possibility he could be shut down. If he does make another start, it's slated for the last Yankees game of the season on the road against the Royals on Sunday.

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• Yankees' Michael King: Possible waiver wire pickups

  Rotowire Sep 25, 2023

  This Michael King pickup has been a long time coming. Considered by many to be the Yankees' top reliever the past two years, the right-hander began his transition to the starting rotation in late August, and it was going well enough. His performance was holding steady. He wasn't losing velocity the way so many relievers do when stretched over multiple innings. The only issue was that his outings were short, his transition progressing too gradually for him to be of much use in Fantasy. When the restrains finally came off in his last start Wednesday against the Blue Jays, the results were nothing short of astounding: seven innings, one run, no walks, 13 strikeouts. And wouldn't you know he lines up for two starts right away? With a 1.40 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 13.7 K/9 in his past five starts and two pitches (sweeper and changeup) capable of generating whiffs at better than a 40 percent rate, King is peaking at just the right time.

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• Yankees' Michael King: Ready for heavier workload

  Rotowire Sep 14, 2023

  Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake said that King is built up for 85-to-90 pitches in Thursday's start versus the Red Sox, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports. King reached 79 pitches his last time out against the Brewers, when he fanned nine over five innings while yielding just one earned run. The right-hander has been excellent since moving into the Yankees' rotation, collecting a 1.08 ERA and 21:3 K:BB over 16.2 frames. He's making a case to be one of the team's five starters heading into next season.

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• Yankees' Michael King: Possible waiver wire pickups

  Rotowire Sep 11, 2023

  Michael King's transition from late-game reliever to starting pitcher has proven to be enough of a success that he's now a viable Fantasy target in his new role. His latest outing Saturday against the Brewers was his second straight of five innings, but he upped his pitch count from 69 to 79 without any compromise in stuff, at least if his nine strikeouts are any indication. While most pitchers lose a tick or two as they get stretched out, his velocity has held steady throughout this transition. King's next outing is against the Red Sox, which makes him in iffy play in Fantasy, but if you're looking for an extra start in a Head-to-Head points league, you have the option of slotting him in as a relief pitcher.

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• Yankees' Michael King: Fans nine over five frames

  Rotowire Sep 10, 2023

  King did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk over five innings against the Brewers while striking out nine. King looked sharp against the Brewers, striking out four of the first seven batters he faced to open the contest. Two runs came across for Milwaukee in the top of the fourth, though only one was charged to King following a throwing error by DJ LeMahieu. The right-hander has now gone five innings in back-to-back starts, allowing a total of two earned runs over that stretch while posting a 13:1 K:BB.

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• Yankees' Michael King: Collects win Sunday

  Rotowire Sep 3, 2023

  King (4-5) allowed a run on five hits and struck out four without walking a batter over five innings to earn the win over the Astros on Sunday. King enjoyed his longest outing of the season, getting through five frames on an economical 69 pitches (44 strikes). That's a further build-up from the 61 pitches he threw over four scoreless innings Tuesday versus Detroit. The right-hander is now at a 2.88 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 91:25 K:BB through 78 innings over 44 appearances (four starts) this year. He appears to be set to remain a starter for the rest of 2023, but he'll likely still have to be efficient to have much of a chance to get wins. King is projected for a home outing versus Milwaukee in his next trip to the mound.

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• Yankees' Michael King: Strikes out three as opener

  Rotowire Aug 25, 2023

  King did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing one unearned run on one hit and two walks over 2.2 innings against the Nationals while striking out three. King pitched well over the first two innings but found himself in a jam in the third after walking two of the first four batters he faced in the frame. One unearned run came home following a fielding error by Anthony Volpe and the right-hander was then relieved by Keynan Middleton as New York went with a bullpen day. The Yankees have now lost the last four games in which King has appeared, though he's held his own so far in August with a 3.00 ERA and 20:5 K:BB.

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• Yankees' Michael King: Nabs sixth save

  Rotowire Jul 9, 2023

  King picked up the save Saturday against the Cubs. striking out one over 1.2 scoreless innings. King took over for Gerrit Cole with one out in the top of the eighth and needed just five pitches to retire the next two batters and end the inning. He would later hit Christopher Morel with a pitch in the ninth, but the right-hander was solid outside of that one hiccup en route to earning his sixth save of the season. King has now converted three of his last four save attempts and lowered his season ERA to 2.77 with Saturday's scoreless outing.

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• Yankees' Michael King: Notches fourth save

  Rotowire Jun 14, 2023

  King picked up the save Tuesday against the Mets, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning. King sealed a 7-6 victory, setting the Mets down in order in the ninth inning after Clay Holmes pitched the eighth. It's King's first save since May 15. He improved to 4-for-6 in save chances with a 2.19 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 41:12 K:BB across 37 innings this season. King should continue to pitch in high-leverage spots for the Yankees, though Holmes is still likely the preferred ninth-inning option.

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• Yankees' Michael King: Nabs third save

  Rotowire May 16, 2023

  King earned a save with 1.1 perfect innings against Toronto on Monday. After the Blue Jays rallied for four runs in the bottom of eighth, King was summoned to put out the fire with two outs and a runner on second. He induced a groundout to end the frame, then stayed around for the ninth, during which he retired the side on 10 pitches. The successful outing earned King his third save, all of which have required him to get more than three outs. While it may be inaccurate to name King the Yankees' primary closer, he is as much in the mix as any of the team's relievers -- since April 27, he's notched three saves, Wandy Peralta has picked up two, two others have one apiece and Clay Holmes has zero.

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