Padres Starting Pitchers Announced for NLDS Games 1 & 2

San Diego Padres have announced their starting pitchers for National League Division Series Games 1 and 2 against the Milwaukee Brewers. The key players are Robbie Ray and Michael King. Robbie Ray will take the mound in Game 1, while Michael King is slated to start in Game 2.

Robbie Ray has a 5.02 ERA in 2026 and 14 earned runs over his last four starts. However, his postseason experience may provide San Diego with a quality start for longer than anticipated. Ray has a 12.83 K/9 ratio and has been effective against Milwaukee, limiting them to 12 earned runs over 38 1/3 innings pitched in his career.

Michael King, on the other hand, has a 3.21 ERA in 2026. He delivered a no-hitter in the 7th inning against the Chicago Cubs in his Wild Card game, which helped San Diego secure a series sweep. King has been particularly effective against left-handed batters, with a .219 batting average against in his last 10 starts. His sinker-slider mix has also proven successful against left-handed hitters.

Both pitchers will rely on the Padres' defensive core and offense to secure a win in Milwaukee. The Padres have proven they can perform well against top-tier starting pitchers, having won 20 of their last 23 games and top the league in offensive categories over the last 30 days. The team will need to maintain its second-half success to have a chance at winning the series against the Milwaukee Brewers.