NEW YORK -- So many of the Padres' playoff plans were predicated on Michael King being, well, Michael King. The guy who started Game 1 of the postseason for them last year and Opening Day in March. The guy who finished seventh in National League Cy Young voting last season and raced to an excellent start through 10 outings this year.

King proceeded to miss most of the summer while dealing with a nerve injury that affected the strength in his shoulder, then a knee injury he sustained after attempting to ramp up too quickly. But the Padres always expected King back for the stretch run, counting on him for pivotal starts in September and into October.

Sure enough, King is back -- but he doesn’t look himself. At least not yet.

In his second start back from the injured list, King was rough

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