Until this week, the four pitchers with assured spots in the starting rotation had been building up and refining their repertoire solely in the bullpen and on back fields at the Peoria Sports Complex.

Michael King’s outing Wednesday — his first of the spring in a stadium, in front of a few thousand people, with score being kept — showed why it is important to get the first Cactius League start out of the way.

“One of those where I kind of felt foreign out there for a little bit,” said King, who walked two and hit one of the first four batters he faced. “I think I was trying too hard to throw a strike instead of just competing and throwing. So I got myself into a situation but was able to make a couple pitches and get out of that.”

Following a visit to the mound from pitching coach Ruben Niebla, King retired the next two batters on three pitches to escape the inning unscathed after loading the bases with one out. He then struck out two in a 14-pitch second inning.

“It’s that adrenaline rush,” said King, who finished seventh in Cy Young voting last season. “You can’t simulate it on a backfield or a live BP. So getting the jitters out, getting the uncomfortability out, and then had a successful second inning.”

Manager Mike Shildt won’t reveal the identity of the Padres’ opening-day starter, but he might have provided a hint. Moreover, he seemed to indicate we will know by March 19, eight days before the Padres’ first game.

“We’ve got an off day that we can set the rotation,” Shildt said. “And we’re not there yet.”

That off day comes March 19, and the Padres can use it to make sure their starters are lined up for their first turns through the rotation.

As it stands, based on this week’s order, the rotation would go like this: Dylan Cease followed by Yu Darvish, then a yet-to-be-determined starter, Nick Pivetta and King.

That seems a logical order, at least for the first two spots. However, counting every six days, Darvish’s turn would come up on opening day. That changes if the Padres push everyone back a day, which having no game on March 19 allows.

There is rain in the forecast for today in Peoria, Ariz., so that could necessitate further alteration to the throwing schedule.

— San Diego Union-Tribune

ANGELS REPORT

Trout played six innings in right field, handling multiple chances as he continues to get comfortable in his new position. It was Trout’s sixth Cactus League game, with four in right field and two as the designated hitter. “The plays he made in right field … not surprised; he’s an outfielder and he’s a real good outfielder,” Manager Ron Washington said.

Trout also homered in Wednesday game against the Dodgers. He and Mickey Moniak hit first-inning home runs off Dodgers right-hander Landon Knack.

— Doug Padilla

DODGERS REPORT

Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and Tommy Edman hit home runs as the Dodgers beat a Texas Rangers split squad, 8-4, on Thursday afternoon at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona.

Dustin May took some time to find his command but pitched three scoreless innings. He walked two and gave up a hit in the first two innings but struck out three of the last four batters he faced.

Pitching prospect Jackson Ferris struck out the side in the fourth inning but gave up three hits, including a two-run home run to Nick Ahmed in the fifth inning.

Freeman’s solo home run in the third inning was his team-leading third in five Cactus League games. The 2024 World Series MVP is 5 for 14 this spring.

Shohei Ohtani went 2 for 4 with an opposite-field double and scored a run. He is 5 for 12 in four spring games.

— Bill Plunkett

YANKEES IN PAIN

New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil will be sidelined for at least three months because of a lat strain and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton would have surgery on his elbows only as a last resort, according to general manager Brian Cashman.

Infielder DJ LeMahieu told reporters Thursday he has a grade 1 or 2 left calf strain and will be sidelined for several weeks in his fifth straight injury-hampered season.

Gil, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, cut short a bullpen session last Friday because of tightness in his pitching shoulder and the 26-year-old right-hander went to New York for a second MRI that revealed a high-grade lat strain.

Marcus Stroman likely will replace Gil in a starting rotation that includes Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt.

Stanton said on Feb. 17 after reporting to camp that he had not swung a bat in three or four weeks because of elbow pain. The Yankees said he has been in New York, where he received a second round of platelet-rich plasma injections in both of his elbows. Stanton is back in Tampa this weekend.