Padres manager Craig Stammen told reporters Michael King will not start Sunday’s regular-season finale if they’ve already clinched a playoff spot.
Stammen’s remark serves as a warning to fantasy managers that King, who is starting Tuesday’s series opener against the Dodgers on short rest, isn’t a lock to start Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Diamondbacks this weekend. The 31-year-old will only get the ball if it’s a win-or-go-home situation that decides whether San Diego makes the postseason. Assuming that doesn’t happen, he’ll be pushed back to Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.