Padres pregame: Luis Arraez sits for Michael King’s return from IL

When Michael King is right, he’s getting groundballs when he’s not getting strikeouts. That’s part of the calculus behind keeping Jose Iglesias at shortstop, Jake Cronenworth at second base and sitting Luis Arraez in favor of Ryan O’Hearn at first base for King’s first start off the injured list.

Well, that and the fact that Gavin Sheets, the DH on Tuesday, has been as productive as any Padre over the last week.

“All the times we do a lineup, it’s a factor of … putting our best foot forward to go compete and win a major league game,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said before Tuesday’s 6:40 p.m. first pitch on Padres.TV. “Part of what today was, we got Michael on the mound and he’s going to be on the ground a lot, so we want to make sure we’re catching the baseball. And then we’ve had guys that have really produced well. Sheets clearly has done it, but O’Hearn has more than earned his opportunity. (O’Hearn) took a day yesterday, gave Luis the start off today, and if the opportunity presents itself, he’ll be ready to go.”

It is the second time in five days that Arraez has given way to O’Hearn at first base. He walked as a lead-off, pinch-hitter on Friday after Kyle Freeland frustrated the Padres over eight shutout innings and returned to the lineup on Saturday with his 17th game with at least three hits, the third most in the majors.

To date, Arraez’s 157 plate appearances since the trade deadline are second only to Fernando Tatis Jr.’s and well ahead of both O’Hearn (117) and Sheets (77). Arraez has a .612 OPS since the trade deadline, well behind both Sheets (1.114) and O’Hearn (.737).

Asked about the output on Saturday after a rare day off, Arraez said: “Just stay positive, man. I want to say thanks God I’m healthy. That’s more important, and if you’re in there I want to do the little things to win and to support the team. We have a great team. Sometimes up and down, because it’s baseball and baseball is hard, but we need to just keep continue to play hard. We need to just keep enjoying. If we’re enjoying, we have good resources.”

Messin’ with the King. pic.twitter.com/1OYIPQnYDG

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 9, 2025

Without Arraez (.705 OPS) in Tuesday’s lineup, O’Hearn (.812) will hit second for just the second time as a Padre. Sheets (.797) will hit cleanup, followed by left fielder Ramón Laureano (.903), center fielder Jackson Merrill (.733 OPS) and Iglesias (.563).

To make room for King’s return from the injured list, right-hander Alek Jacob was optioned to Triple-A El Paso.

Jacob has a 5.13 ERA in 33⅓ innings this year in the majors but had allowed just one run in his last 10 innings dating back to July 20.

King’s return also means the Padres are back down to a nine-man bullpen (rosters expanding to 28 in September allows them to carry an extra arm this month).

Monday’s win increased the Padres’ lead to three games over the Mets in the race for the NL’s second wild-card spot.

The Reds are four games behind the Mets after losing Monday. Here is how Cincinnati will line up Tuesday:

Game 2 in SD.

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— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 9, 2025

Tuesday’s pitching matchup

Reds RHP Zack Littell (9-8, 3.81 ERA)

He has a 4.78 ERA in six starts since arriving via trade from the Rays. He has allowed an MLB-worst 34 homers, including eight with the Reds. Littell beat the Padres earlier this year while still with the Rays, allowing two runs in five innings in April in San Diego.

Here is how he’s fared against current Padres:

Padres RHP Michael King (4-2, 2.81 ERA)

He is returning from the injured list to make this start. King made one start in his return from his nerve issue before knee inflammation sent him back to the shelf. King is 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA in 10⅔ innings against the Reds, but the only start was 6⅔ innings of three-run ball in a win last year in his first full year in a rotation.

Here is how King has fared against current Reds: