Credit the Padres’ fill-in starting pitchers, bombastic bullpen for keeping the club afloat and then some in Michael King’s absence

ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez released a list of injured stars this morning who could help contenders down the stretch. With the San Diego Padres just 2.0 games behind the NL-West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, right-hander Michael King was mentioned.

Before King’s rehab start, he also threw in three simulated innings where he said he felt fully healed from his injury. The Padres wanted to let King get back in the groove before reactivating him and seem to feel confident he has progressed to MLB standard.