SAN DIEGO -- The Padres are getting Michael King back -- and not a moment too soon.

On Tuesday, King is slated to return to the rotation after, technically, missing one month with left knee inflammation . In reality, the 30-year-old right-hander has spent most of the past 3 1/2 months on the injured list.

King previously dealt with a nerve injury that affected the strength of his throwing shoulder. He returned from that IL stint on Aug. 9, only to return to the IL after just two innings. King began experiencing soreness in his knee -- inflammation that he said almost certainly arose because he tried to ramp up too quickly.

This time around, King was more deliberate in his buildup. For good reason. Right now, his return to the rotation might be the single most important factor in the

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