Padres pregame: Sean Reynolds optioned out to make room for Michael King’s return

Sean Reynolds at least did his job on his way out of town.

While he walked five batters in turning Friday’s loss into a laugher, he covered the final five innings to ensure all of the Padres’ late-and-close arms and those applying for such roles (ahem, David Morgan) are available to pitch behind right-hander Michael King, who is coming off the injured list after throwing just 61 pitches in his lone rehab start on Sunday.

To make room for King before the 5:40 p.m. first pitch (Padres.TV, CBS), Reynolds was optioned to El Paso. That means the Padres again have an eight-man bullpen and all of their leverage relievers have had at least two days off.

Friday’s appearance (1⅔ IP, 5 ER) was Reynolds’ lone appearance since replacing left-hander JP Sears on the roster on Tuesday.

Reynolds has a 5.55 ERA over 24⅓ innings in the majors this season. He has struck out 22 but is up to 13 walks after Friday’s appearance.

King’s first start off the injured list will be paired with his first start with new catcher Freddy Fermin, who is emerging as the team’s No. 1 catcher.

Fermin is catching for the fifth time in eight games since the trade deadline. Elias Díaz has caught Nick Pivetta twice and Yu Darvish once.

Fermin is hitting .438/.500/.500 with three RBIs in 18 plate appearances since arriving from the Royals.

Fermin will serve as the nine-hole hitter, subbing in for Díaz in the only variation from Friday’s lineup.

All hail the King. pic.twitter.com/tJHMovtykF

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

The Padres enter Sunday three games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and as the No. 2 wild-card team in the NL, one game up on the Mets.

Before the game, the Padres and Red Sox participated in a cross-state fundraiser with the San Antonio Missions for victims of the Texas Hill Country floods.

The Padres and Red Sox wore replicas of jerseys belonging to high schools affected by the flooding during batting practice. The Missions, the Padres’ Double-A affiliate, will wear the jerseys in their Saturday night game against Springfield.

The Missions’ jerseys will be auctioned immediately after Saturday’s game, while the jerseys worn by the Padres and Red Sox will be placed in an online auction next week.

Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill and Morgan have all played for the Missions.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora played for the Missions in 1997.

Here is Boston’s lineup for Game 2:

Saturday starters. pic.twitter.com/SRN16Etkdl

— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 9, 2025

Saturday’s pitching matchup

Red Sox RHP Lucas Giolito (8-2, 3.57 ERA)

A first-round pick in 2012, Giolito has struck out 81 in 95⅔ innings (1.19 WHIP) since returning from the brace procedure, a Tommy John alternative, that wiped out all of 2024. His 2.5 walks per nine innings is well below his career rate (3.3). Giolito has allowed two runs over his last two starts (14 IP), both victories. His only start against the Padres was all the way back in 2016 (3⅓ IP, 4 ER).

Here is how Giolito has fared against current Padres:

Padres RHP Michael King (4-2, 2.59 ERA)

He’s making his first start since mid-May after a nerve issue sent him to the injured list. King made his lone rehab start on Sunday at Triple-A El Paso, throwing 61 pitches while allowing six rounds on four hits, a walk and a hit batter in 3⅓ innings. King will likely have a pitch count of around 80. He has a 4.54 ERA in 33⅔ career innings against the Red Sox, but mostly as a reliever before beating them with six innings of one-run ball last year in Boston.

Here is how King has fared against current Red Sox: