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King (1-1) took the loss against the Mets on Sunday, allowing two runs on two hits and no walks with two strikeouts over 1.2 innings.
King opened the game and took the loss, as he was charged with two of the 10 runs the Mets scored against the Marlins in a bullpen game. The southpaw owns a 2.52 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB with three holds and one save across 25 innings this season, and Sunday's appearance was likely a one-off while the Marlins sort through their depleted rotation.
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Marlins' John King: Drawing start in bullpen game
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King is slated to serve as the Marlins' opening pitcher in Sunday's game against the Mets, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Janson Junk had been confirmed to start Sunday, but the Marlins made him a late scratch and placed him on the 15-day injured list due to a right shin injury. Miami has thus turned to King to make his first MLB start in what will be a bullpen day in the series finale in New York. King hasn't recorded more than four outs in any appearance this season, so he shouldn't be expected to work more than 1-to-2 innings.
King retired the only batter he faced in the ninth inning to earn a one-out save in Saturday's 8-7 win over the Nationals.
King entered to protect a one-run lead with a runner on first and two outs in the ninth inning and got CJ Abrams to fly out for his first career save. It was likely a lefty-on-lefty matchup play by manager Clayton McCullough, but the 31-year-old southpaw also owns a stellar 0.54 ERA, 0.54 WHIP and 15:6 K:BB across 16.2 innings this season. Closer Pete Fairbanks (hand) is hopeful to return soon, but King has at least worked his way into the ninth-inning equation until that happens.
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Marlins' John King: Collects win Sunday
Rotowire
King (1-0) picked up the win in Sunday's 7-6 victory over the Yankees, retiring the only batter he faced to end the seventh inning.
The southpaw took the mound with Miami down 4-3 and New York threatening to add to the deficit with runners on first and third with two outs, but King got Jazz Chisholm to ground out to end the frame. The Marlins' offense then erupted for four runs in the top of the eighth to give King the win. The veteran reliever has had a strong start to the season, posting a 0.00 ERA and 3:1 K:BB through three innings over four appearances.
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Marlins' John King: Set for bullpen role
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King has won a spot in the Marlins' Opening Day bullpen, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
After signing a one-year deal with Miami in February, King lines up to be the top left-handed relief option for manager Clayton McCullough. King was sharp this spring, posting a 1.13 ERA and 9:4 K:BB over eight innings, and given his likely role, he could top the career-high 12 holds he recorded between the Rangers and Cardinals in 2023.
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Marlins' John King: Lands with Miami
Rotowire
King agreed Wednesday with the Marlins on a one-year, $1.5 million deal, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Non-tendered by the Cardinals in late November, King sat on the open market for months waiting on a fully guaranteed major-league deal until the Marlins finally stepped up to the table. In Miami, King likely projects to fill a middle-relief role in front of presumptive closer Pete Fairbanks. Over 51 appearances out of the St. Louis bullpen in 2025, the 31-year-old King submitted a 4.66 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 28:14 K:BB in 48.1 innings.
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John King: Let go by St. Louis
Rotowire
The Cardinals did not tender King a contract for 2026 on Friday, making him a free agent.
King posted a 2.85 ERA for St. Louis in 2024 and appeared poised for a high-leverage role last season, but he failed to take advantage and finished 2025 with a 4.66 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 28:14 K:BB over 48.1 innings.
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Cardinals' John King: Makes return from IL
Rotowire
The Cardinals activated King (back) from the 15-day injured list Friday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
King hasn't made an appearance for the Cardinals since late July, as he's dealt with an oblique strain and more recently a mid-back strain. The lefty has been deemed ready to return after making one rehab appearance with Double-A Springfield.
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Cardinals' John King: Cleared for rehab assignment
Rotowire
King (back) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield on Wednesday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
King hasn't been on a big-league mound since late July, as he dealt with an oblique strain and more recently a mid-back strain. It's not clear how many rehab appearances he'll require before being activated from the 15-day injured list, but he's nearing a return.
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Cardinals' John King: Throwing live BP on Monday
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King (back) will throw a live batting practice session Monday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
King will face fellow rehabbers Nolan Arenado (shoulder) and Brendan Donovan (groin), among others. The lefty reliever hasn't made an appearance in the majors since late July, first because of an oblique strain and later due to a mid-back strain. King will likely require at least one rehab appearance before being activated from the 15-day injured list.
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Cardinals' John King: Heads back to IL
Rotowire
The Cardinals placed King on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to a mid-back strain.
King had been on the shelf from July 30 through this past Saturday due to an oblique strain, and despite having not made a relief appearance since being activated Sunday, the left-hander will head back to the IL with a new injury. St. Louis recalled right-hander Andre Granillo from Triple-A Memphis to replace King in the bullpen.
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Cardinals' John King: Makes return from IL
Rotowire
The Cardinals activated King (oblique) from the 15-day injured list Sunday.
St. Louis optioned reliever Anthony Veneziano to Triple-A Memphis to clear room in the bullpen for King, who had been shelved since July 30 due to a left oblique strain. Prior to going down with the injury, King had notched two wins and two holds while delivering a 5.18 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 24:13 K:BB across 41.2 innings in 43 appearances.
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Cardinals' John King: Return imminent
Rotowire
King (oblique) tossed a scoreless inning Saturday in his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Memphis, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
As long as he bounces back well, King should be activated from the 15-day injured list at some point during the Cardinals' Aug. 18-to-24 road trip. The lefty reliever has been sidelined since late July with a left oblique strain.
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Cardinals' John King: Aims for rehab games this weekend
Rotowire
King (oblique) will throw a full-effort bullpen session Wednesday and, if it goes well, will begin a rehab assignment this weekend, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
King has thrown a pair of bullpen sessions since going on the 15-day injured list in late July with a left oblique strain, but Wednesday's session will be his first at full effort. The lefty reliever hasn't missed much time, so he could be ready to rejoin the active roster next week after a brief rehab assignment.
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Cardinals' John King: Rehab assignment imminent
Rotowire
King (oblique) could begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis as soon as Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
King threw a bullpen session at approximately 70 percent effort last Thursday and was scheduled for a full-effort bullpen session Saturday. As long as he bounces back from those throwing sessions with no issues, he'll be cleared for rehab games. The lefty reliever is first eligible for activation from the 15-day injured list Friday, and he has a good chance to return that day.
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Cardinals' John King: Lands on IL with oblique strain
Rotowire
The Cardinals placed King on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a left oblique strain.
King suffered the injury during an appearance Tuesday versus the Marlins and will be shelved for at least the next two weeks. Gordon Graceffo was called up from Triple-A Memphis to replace King on the 26-man active roster and in the bullpen.
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Cardinals' John King: Exits appearance with side injury
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King was removed from an appearance Tuesday versus the Marlins due to a left side injury, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The Cardinals deemed King's removal precautionary, with the hope being that he is merely dealing with cramps rather than an oblique injury. He will be re-evaluated Wednesday. King threw two-thirds of a scoreless frame before exiting.
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Cardinals' John King: Relegated to low-leverage role
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King has been scored upon in seven of 16 appearances this season out of the Cardinals' bullpen.
King was a trusted reliever for manager Oliver Marmol the previous two seasons, collecting a 2.75 ERA across 75 appearances. The sinker baller is still inducing grounders at an elite 64.3 percent rate, but an ugly 4.91 ERA, 1.84 WHIP and 8:6 K:BB over 14.2 frames has reduced the southpaw to low-leverage appearances in 2025, as King's lone hold this season came back on Opening Day.
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Cardinals' John King: Settles with St. Louis
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King agreed to a one-year, $1.605 million contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
King's first full season in St. Louis marked the best of his five-year career, finishing with a 2.85 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 60 innings out of the bullpen. He won't be a candidate for saves as long as Ryan Helsley is on the active roster, but the 30-year-old King seems to have developed into a reliable middle reliever.
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