Pivetta took the loss in Tuesday's game against the Cubs after surrendering two earned runs on three hits and no walks while striking out nine batters across five innings.
The right-hander allowed just one baserunner through the first four innings of Tuesday's contest, but a pair of solo homers from Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly to lead off the fifth put Chicago in front. Pivetta struck out the next three batters he faced to finish his start; however, a shutdown performance from the Cubs' bullpen kept the Padres behind for the rest of the game. It was a reassuring performance from the 32-year-old after he finished the regular season by giving up six runs in 10.1 frames, but San Diego will now need to win two straight games at Wrigley Field for Pivetta to have any chance of facing the Brewers in the NLDS.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Starting Game 1
Rotowire
Pivetta will draw the start in Tuesday's Game 1 matchup with the Cubs in the wild-card round, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Pivetta will take the mound as the Padres' postseason run begins Tuesday, earning the nod after posting a 2.87 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 190 strikeouts over 181.2 innings in 31 starts this season. The right-hander has surrendered six runs on 11 hits and five walks, while striking out 10 batters over 10.1 innings in his last two outings. Pivetta previously matched up with the Cubs twice in April, combining to pitch nine innings, giving up four runs on 10 hits and four walks, while punching out 10.
Pivetta did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing three runs on four hits and five walks over 5.2 innings in a 5-4 victory over the Brewers. He struck out five.
Pivetta delivered a decent outing Monday, though his five walks marked a season high. The 32-year-old has been sharp throughout 2025 and has stayed steady down the stretch, carrying a 2.90 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 40.1 innings in his past seven starts, numbers that closely mirror his season line of a 2.87 ERA and 0.99 WHIP over 181.2 innings in 31 outings. He's currently lined up to start Sunday's regular-season finale against the Diamondbacks, but the Padres could hold him back to open a potential Wild Card Series game.
Pivetta didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Padres, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out five over 4.2 innings.
All the damage from the star-studded New York lineup against the right-hander came via the long ball, as he surrendered solo homers to Pete Alonso in the first inning, Starling Marte in the fourth and Juan Soto in the fifth -- marking the first time this season he's allowed three home runs in a start. While his last couple outings have been a step back from his usual dominance, Pivetta still owns an impressive 2.81 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 185:45 K:BB across 176 innings. The 31-year-old remains in search of his first win since Aug 19 and is slated to face the Brewers in his next start.
Pivetta pitched seven scoreless innings against Cincinnati on Wednesday, allowing four hits and issuing one walk while striking out eight batters in a no-decision.
Pivetta was brilliant against the Reds, limiting them to four harmless singles while throwing 73 of 101 pitches for strikes. The right-hander exited after the seventh frame with a 1-0 lead, but San Diego's bullpen gave up a pair of runs in the eighth, which both saddled Pivetta with a no-decision and handed the Padres a critical defeat. Pivetta has gone winless over his past four starts, but that's hardly his fault -- he has three quality starts and a 26:7 K:BB across 25 frames during that span. Pivetta's next start is tentatively slated to be a road matchup in New York against the Mets.
Pivetta (13-5) allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over six innings to take the loss Friday versus the Rockies.
Pivetta wasn't bad, but he wasn't at his best. The same could be said for the Padres' offense, which was limited to three hits and a walk over the course of the whole game, giving the right-hander virtually no support. Pivetta has secured a quality start in four of his last five outings, allowing nine runs (eight earned) over 29.2 innings in that span, but he is winless in his last three starts. On the year, he's at a 2.85 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 172:44 K:BB through 164.1 innings across 28 starts. The 32-year-old is tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Reds.
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