Nick Pivetta’s rehab outing for the San Diego Padres took a sudden turn Tuesday, and the sight in Lake Elsinore raised immediate alarm.
With two outs in the fourth inning, Pivetta threw a pitch, then walked off the mound and headed straight to the dugout with what appeared to be an injury. It was an abrupt exit from a start that was supposed to be part of his return path.
Pivetta, 33, has been limited to four starts in his 10th MLB season because of inflammation in his right elbow. MLB.com reported on Sunday Aug. 2 that Joe Musgrove was scheduled to piggyback Pivetta in relief.
The setback carries obvious weight for San Diego, which had been banking on Pivetta working his way back into the rotation as the season moves into its final stretch. Instead, the Padres may now be staring at a much bigger problem.
The club added former Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray from the San Francisco Giants, along with Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize, before the MLB trade deadline on Aug. 3. Pivetta’s exit makes those moves look less like upgrades and more like necessities.
San Diego is tied with the Miami Marlins at 58-55 in the National League Wild card standings. Both teams entered play Tuesday two games behind the Philadelphia Phillies (60-53) for the third and final NL postseason berth.
Pivetta had been a major piece for the Padres in 2025, the first year of his four-year, $55 million deal. He finished 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 31 starts, while setting career highs in wins, strikeouts (190) and innings pitched (181.2).
He also took the ball in October for Game 1 of the Padres’ Wild Card series against the Chicago Cubs, allowing two runs over five innings.
Now the questions are piling up fast. The Padres have already had trouble getting dependable innings from their starters beyond Michael King, and Pivetta and Musgrove were expected to help round out the rotation behind King, Ray and Mize.
Instead, San Diego has to reset again - and Pivetta’s 2026 and 2027 seasons are in doubt.
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