The Padres may finally be closing in on a boost to their battered rotation.
Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta both took a meaningful step this week by throwing an “up-down” at the Padres complex, a sign that each right-hander is moving deeper into the comeback process. The workout had them throwing 15-20 pitches, taking a rest, then coming back for another 15-20 in a two-inning simulation.
For a San Diego staff that has spent much of the year piecing things together, that matters. Musgrove has been sidelined all season, while Pivetta has been limited to just four starts. Both have been working back from elbow injuries, and both are now trending toward the next phase of their rehab.
Padres manager Craig Stammen sounded encouraged by the update.
“They came out of it healthy and rock and rolling, so they’re taking the next steps,” Stammen said. “Very important step. I think the next step is probably getting closer to facing live hitters.”
That could be the bridge to a return in August if everything keeps moving in the right direction, with rehab assignments to follow after that.
Pivetta’s situation has been especially frustrating for the Padres. He was knocked out in mid-April during his fourth start of the season after suffering a flexor strain in his right elbow, and San Diego had counted on him to be the leader of the staff this year.
Musgrove’s path has been even longer. He was hurt in spring training after a setback in his elbow, and the veteran missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The elbow has not always responded the way he wanted, which has slowed the process considerably.
“If we were gonna bounce a ball, that bouncing of the elbow is where I get a lot of pain,” Musgrove said last month. “And to be able to throw a ball with good intensity and be able to spin the ball and put the ball where I want location-wise, I need to be able to bounce the elbow and lock it out hard. That’s been the biggest struggle for me over the last couple months."
The Padres have handled both recoveries carefully, giving each pitcher time to heal rather than rushing the process. Now, with live hitters potentially next week, the finish line is starting to come into view.
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The harder part is what it would cost, and that is where Kash Mayfield enters the conversation. The left-hander has quickly become one of the organizations more interesting young arms, a first-round pick from 2024 who has already reached the Futures Game and is working his way through High-A. For the Padres, this is the familiar deadline dilemma: whether a controllable prospect is worth surrendering for immediate help, especially when the other club may be ready to move on from a pitcher with no extension momentum. [Read more 🡒]