How did Michael King of the Padres change his approach from reliever to starting pitcher?

San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King has made an impressive transition from reliever to starter with the Padres this season. Before joining the Padres, King was primarily a reliever throughout his career. Of the 135 games he pitched in before being traded to the Padres as part of the Juan Soto trade, he was only a starter in 19 games.

Not only has King developed into a reliable starter, but he is also probably the Padres' best starting pitcher this season. With an ERA of 2.95, he leads all Padres starters and is second only to Dylan Cease in wins and strikeouts.

This move did not bring immediate success for King. In King's first seven starts of the season, he posted a 5.00 ERA with 21 walks, including one start with seven walks.

King has become a reliable starter and explained what he did differently after a difficult start to the season in order to throw better.

“As a reliever, every time I did my homework, it was, 'Where do I get swing and miss?' Because that's all I had to get right,” King said, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “It didn't matter if I had a 25-pitch inning, as long as I got a zero. Or if I came in with runners on base, I knew I needed a punchout. I never paid attention to soft contact. I never paid attention to where I could avoid the slug. And then in April and May, when I didn't have my best stuff, it was OK to walk people because I could strike people out, too. And now it ended up being 100 pitches in four or five innings, and it was an uphill battle.

“The most important thing I learned is to look for weaknesses in opposing hitters.”

The changes have proven tremendously successful for King, who has posted a 3.00 ERA or lower every month since late April. The Padres have relied on him all season, especially when Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove were unavailable, and King has delivered time and time again.

King delivered another convincing performance on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Facing one of the best teams in MLB, King pitched five innings and allowed three hits, one run (zero earned), and two walks while recording three strikeouts. His pitching helped the Padres earn a decisive victory over their division rivals and secure their place in the playoffs.