Padres' Nick Pivetta: Sharp following lengthy absence
Rotowire
Pivetta (2-2) earned the win over Washington on Monday, allowing two hits and striking out two batters over five scoreless innings. He did not issue a walk.
Pivetta missed nearly five months of MLB action and logged just three minor-league rehab appearances after landing on the IL in mid-April due to a right flexor strain, so his workload was limited to 63 pitches in his return. Nonetheless, the veteran righty was able to go deep enough to notch a victory, as he allowed the Nationals to put only two runners on base. Pivetta ended the outing on a high note by retiring the final seven batters he faced, and about the only detail that wasn't positive from a fantasy perspective is that he notched only two punchouts (and just one whiff). The Padres are battling for a wild-card spot in the NL, so the team doesn't figure to hold Pivetta back too much, though it's likely he'll need a few more starts to ramp up to a full workload. He's next scheduled to take the mound this weekend in San Francisco.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Returns from IL for Monday's start
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The Padres activated Pivetta (forearm) from the 60-day injured list Monday.
Pivetta will rejoin the Padres rotation with a start Monday against the Nationals after missing nearly five months of action due to a flexor strain. The veteran right-hander fanned seven over 4.1 shutout innings in his final rehab start with Triple-A El Paso on Aug. 30. Pivetta threw 64 pitches in that outing, so he won't be ready to handle a full workload Monday.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Starting Monday against Nats
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Pivetta (forearm) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Monday's game against the Nationals, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Pivetta has been cleared to take the mound in a big-league game for the first time since April 12 after throwing 4.1 scoreless innings and punching out seven in a rehab start with Triple-A El Paso on Aug. 30. Last month, it looked like Pivetta's season might be over when he removed himself from a minor-league game in the middle of an at-bat, but he has progressed without setbacks since. He built up to 64 pitches in his final rehab outing last Sunday.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Throws in bridge league game in Arizona
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Manager Craig Stammen said that Pivetta (forearm) threw two innings in a bridge league game Thursday at the Padres' spring training complex in Arizona, 97.3 The Fan San Diego reports.
Stammen noted that Pivetta "felt great" during the outing and will throw a bullpen session before the Padres decide when the right-hander will make his next appearance in a game, either at the complex in Arizona or as part of a minor-league rehab assignment. Pivetta -- who has been on the shelf since April 14 due to a right forearm strain -- kicked off a rehab assignment at Single-A Lake Elsinore on Aug. 4 but tossed just 14 pitches before experiencing renewed tightness in his elbow. Though Pivetta is pitching in games again, he'll still need some time to build back up and is no longer looking likely to make it back from the 60-day injured list until September.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Plays catch Sunday
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Pivetta (forearm) played catch at PetCo Park on Sunday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Pivetta is in a holding pattern in terms of resuming a rehab stint, but he's still been able to do some throwing. The right-hander exited a rehab start -- his first since landing on the injured list April 14 due to a right flexor strain -- with Triple-A El Paso on Aug. 4 after throwing just 14 pitches, though he did get in some more throws in the bullpen afterward. According to Cassavell, the Padres have "tentative plans" for Pivetta to throw a bullpen session but haven't revealed a date for that to take place.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Optimism despite rehab departure
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Pivetta (forearm) exited Tuesday's rehab start with Single-A Lake Elsinore due to elbow tightness, but he threw in the bullpen after leaving the outing and felt fine, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Pivetta abruptly left the mound in the middle of an at-bat in the fourth inning. Despite that departure, Pivetta went to the bullpen and threw 30 more pitches without issue, according to Nightengale. It sounds like the right-hander has avoided a significant setback in his return from a forearm strain, but the Padres could take another look at Pivetta's arm before he makes his next rehab start.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Departs rehab outing
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Pivetta (forearm) was removed from his rehab start with Single-A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday due to an apparent injury, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander was making his first rehab appearance since going down with a forearm strain in mid-April, but he exited Tuesday's game during the middle of an at-bat after throwing a pitch in the fourth inning. The specifics of the situation are unclear, but any sort of significant setback could threaten Pivetta's availability for the rest of the season. The Padres will likely provide an update in the near future.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Could throw off mound soon
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Pivetta (forearm) has advanced to playing long toss and could soon begin throwing off a mound, MLB.com reports.
Pivetta has been sidelined by a right flexor strain since mid-April. The right-handed hurler began a throwing program in late May, but he's yet to start up mound work. With that big step potentially looming, Pivetta appears to be making tangible progress in his recovery. Nonetheless, he's not expected to return to San Diego's rotation until sometime after the All-Star break.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Begins throwing program Friday
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Pivetta (forearm) played catch Friday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union Tribune reports.
Though Pivetta's throwing was on flat ground in the outfield at Nationals Park, it was still a significant step given that it was the first time he has played catch since landing on the injured list April 14. The veteran pitcher is expected to continue playing catch on flat ground for at least two weeks before a determination is made about his next steps. Acee reports that the Padres are being cautious with Pivetta as well as with fellow injured starter Joe Musgrove (elbow). It's quite possible that neither pitcher will be ready to return until after the All-Star break.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Timeline for return uncertain
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Padres manager Craig Stammen said Tuesday that Pivetta underwent an MRI on his elbow, but the Padres are still awaiting the results before a timeline for the right-hander's return is established, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Pivetta exited his most recent start Sunday against the Rockies due to an injury the Padres initially labeled as right elbow stiffness. Upon placing Pivetta on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, the team classified his injury as inflammation, but the severity of the issue won't be known until the MRI results are in. Matt Waldron (lower body) is expected to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list later this week to take over Pivetta's spot in the rotation.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Shut down with elbow inflammation
Rotowire
The Padres placed Pivetta on the 15-day injured list Tuesday due to right elbow inflammation.
In a corresponding move Tuesday, the Padres recalled right-handed reliever Alek Jacob from Triple-A El Paso. Pivetta suffered the injury during his latest start against the Rockies on Sunday, when he exited in the fourth inning. Though the Padres are labeling Pivetta's injury as inflammation, he could be sent in for further tests as the team looks to establish a timeline for his return.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Exits early Sunday
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Pivetta (undisclosed) exited Sunday's contest against the Rockies in the top of the fourth inning, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Pivetta set down the first nine batters he faced in order before signaling to the trainers after firing a 2-1 fastball to Edouard Julien in the top of the fourth inning. The right-hander ultimately exited the contest as a result of an undisclosed injury, finishing his day having tossed three perfect innings while striking out four batters on 46 pitches. More information on his status will likely be provided in the near future.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Rebounds in second start
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Pivetta (1-1) allowed one hit and two walks while striking out eight over five scoreless innings to earn the win over the Giants on Wednesday.
Pivetta's first start of the season was rough with six runs allowed, but he bounced back Wednesday in his second outing. In the 2025 regular season, he had eight outings with at least eight strikeouts, and he won six of those games with no-decisions in the other two. The right-hander now has a 6.75 ERA and a 12:5 K:BB across eight innings over his two starts this season. He is tentatively lined up to make his first road start of the year in Pittsburgh next week, which could be his first outing of a two-start week.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Roughed up on Opening Day
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Pivetta (0-1) took the loss Thursday versus Detroit, allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four batters over three innings.
On the heels of his career-best 2025 campaign, Pivetta was awarded his first MLB Opening Day start. However, things didn't go well for the right-hander, as he gave up more earned runs Thursday than he did in all but one outing last year. Pivetta struggled from the get-go, giving up four runs in the first frame. His control was largely to blame -- Pivetta served up three free passes in that opening inning. He'll try to turn things around in his second start, which is tentatively slated to come at home against San Francisco next week.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Receives Opening Day assignment
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The Padres announced Pivetta as their starting pitcher for Thursday's season opener versus the Tigers at Petco Park.
The decision on an Opening Day starter came down to Pivetta and Michael King, with the former earning the nod on the back of his career-best season in 2025. The 33-year-old righty closed the regular season with a 2.87 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 190:50 K:BB across 181.2 frames, then went on to strike out nine batters and allow two earned runs in five innings in his lone postseason start. Per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, Pivetta dealt with some arm fatigue in the early stages of spring training but was able to get stretched out to 71 pitches and four innings Friday in his final start of camp. He should be ready to handle something close to a typical workload in the opener.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Fans nine in Game 1 loss
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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: Hurt by long ball vs. Mets
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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.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Sees splendid start wasted
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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.
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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Takes fifth loss
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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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Padres' Nick Pivetta: Fans six in no-decision
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Pivetta didn't factor into the decision against the Twins on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six over five innings.
Pivetta was steady through the early frames before serving up a two-run homer to Byron Buxton in the fifth that accounted for most of the damage against him. The long ball has been a recurring issue lately, as Pivetta has now surrendered a home run in five of his last six starts. Still, it was just the second time in the right-hander's last 12 outings that he's allowed more than two runs, a stretch in which he's posted a stellar 2.06 ERA and a 76:18 K:BB across 70 innings. Pivetta is slated to face the Rockies in his next scheduled outing.
