The Padres are finally seeing some encouraging signs from two arms they’ve been waiting on for a long time.
Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta are both trending in the right direction, with each pitcher scheduled to throw to hitters this week. After long recovery paths for both right-handers, the next steps are lining up: once they get through those sessions - likely more than once - they’re expected to move on to rehab assignments.
If everything stays on track, that puts both pitchers in position to rejoin San Diego’s rotation in mid-to-late August.
Padres insider Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that people inside the organization who have watched the two work have come away feeling optimistic about where things stand. The plan is for each starter to build up to five innings, and manager Craig Stammen said the team is hoping for at least four rehab starts.
That timeline matters for more than just the rotation. San Diego has been linked to the search for another starter ahead of the trade deadline, but the possible return of Pivetta and Musgrove could change how the front office approaches that market.
Pivetta’s situation has been especially frustrating. He opened the year in the rotation, but his fourth start ended early because of an elbow injury. The expectation was that he would be the ace of the staff after a strong 2025 season in which he posted a 2.87 ERA across 31 starts.
At first, there was no clear sense of how long he would be out, though few expected the absence to stretch this far. The recovery has dragged on, and Pivetta has reportedly grown frustrated with the process.
There’s also a financial wrinkle hanging over his return. If he can get back before Aug. 22, he avoids the possibility of having his contract voided and losing $32 million.
Musgrove’s road has been just as difficult. He was supposed to be part of the staff this season after missing all of 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but a setback in spring training changed that plan.
His elbow didn’t respond the way the team hoped, and at one point there was even some concern that he might need another surgery. That never happened, which at least kept the comeback alive.
He’s still a few weeks behind Pivetta in the recovery process, but the expectation remains that he’ll return this year.
Before the injury in 2024, Musgrove had been one of the steadier pitchers on the roster, finishing with a 3.88 ERA in 19 starts.
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