CRAIG’S COMMENTS: Speaking of Michael King, Yuki Matsui, Jackson Merrill, Fernando Tatis Jr. and the bench

Jackson Merrill at Nationals Park

Right-handed starter Michael King says he hasn’t had his best stuff this season. But aside from his last start, King has been formidable at the top of the Padres’ rotation, a fact that manager Craig Stammen discussed before King’s start Saturday:

“All of us pitchers would love to not have our full repertoire and pitch like that,” Stammen said of King. “He’s been great so far this year. He had a little rough one the last time out, but you’re not going to be perfect for 33 starts. He’s given us a lot of innings. We really trust him when he is out there.”

Stammen on Yuki Matsui, who has a 0.64 earned run average since coming off the disabled list:

“Yuki has come in with a ton of confidence,” said Stammen. “We’ve pitched him in a little bit different role this year. It’s a little bit longer role. And I think he is really liking it. He loves coming in with guys on base. We’ve put him in a few of those situations and he’s done really well.

“Yuki was maybe the MVP of Friday’s win, tightening that game up and getting us to where we could use the rest of our bullpen and allow the offense to catch up. I definitely think a big part of Yuki’s success is his comfortability in a new country and a new league to play in. And he’s changed a little bit of where he is throwing his fastball. I think all that is a combination of seeing someone who was very successful in the Japanese Baseball League now bringing that to Major League Baseball.”

Stammen on Jackson Merrill’s decisive home run Friday night:

“Sometimes its good to see a really good result from a good process,” Stammen began. “He’s had a good process here over this last week or so. And for him to get one like that, a big hit to give us the lead, the game-winning homer, it was big to solidify that he was on the right track and taking the right process.

“The hard part about hitting is that you can’t force it. It’s one of those things, you can’t make yourself get a hit. Part of hitting is that you can do everything exactly right and you’re still not going to get the result that you desire. So, staying in the process that we’re preaching the whole season through a little bit of our struggles and individual struggles. These guys are on the right track.”

Stammen on Fernando Tatis Jr. hitting .403 over the last 11 games, although he is still homerless:

“I think part of his process was not trying to hit a home run,” said Stammen. “Just thinking ‘I’m a baseball player and not a home run hitter, I’m going to go out and play baseball.’ So far, we’ve seen a little freer version of Fernando at the plate. As a result, we’ve seen a lot of hits.”

Stammen on the success of Padres’ bench players:

“Maybe there’s a little luck involved,” Stammen began. “We’re trying to keep them as sharp as we can when they’re not playing every day and give them the matchups that are favorable for them off past results or what we feel their swing profile fits best with the pitcher. Ty France had the huge home run Friday.”