Overview

• King’s knee inflammation in his landing leg prompted the retroactive IL stint after he lasted just two innings in his lone start back from a three-month shoulder and thoracic nerve absence.
• Randy Vásquez was recalled from Triple-A El Paso, where he logged 68 pitches on Aug. 10, and could either start Friday or provide multiple innings in a bulk role.
• The Padres have not named an official starter for the Dodgers series opener, placing added pressure on their rotation depth in a tight divisional race.
• King has posted a 2.81 ERA with 65 strikeouts and a 4-2 record over 11 starts this season, making his absence a significant setback for San Diego’s pitching staff.
• With eligibility to return around Aug. 26, King’s availability will affect both the Padres’ late-season playoff push and his free-agent value after 2025.