San Diego – The San Diego Padres are set to start the 2026 season with a familiar face on the mound. Right‑hander Nick Pivetta, who missed the last five months recovering from an elbow flexor strain, will make his first major‑league appearance since April when the Padres host the Washington Nationals on Monday.
Rehab and activation
Pivetta was activated from the 60‑day injured list on Monday after completing three rehab outings – two at Class A Lake Elsinore (including one start) and a start for Triple‑A El Paso. In those limited innings he posted a 3.38 ERA over eight innings, showing enough health to rejoin the big‑league staff.
Pitch count and backup plan
Padres manager Craig Stammen confirmed that Pivetta will be on a strict pitch‑count against Washington, with right‑hander Randy Vasquez ready to step in should the veteran need an early exit. The careful approach reflects the club’s desire to protect Pivetta’s arm while still giving fans a quality start on Opening Day.
Season background
At 33, Pivetta’s 2024 season was cut short when he left a start against the Colorado Rockies on April 12 after just three innings. He finished the year 1‑2 with a 4.50 ERA. Despite the setback, 2025 was a career year for Pivetta, as he recorded personal bests in wins (13), ERA (2.87), WHIP (0.99), innings pitched (181 2/3) and strikeouts (190), establishing himself as the Padres’ top pitcher.
Rotation moves
While the club awaited Pivetta’s return, San Diego bolstered its rotation by acquiring left‑hander Robbie Ray from the San Francisco Giants and right‑hander Casey Mize from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline. The moves were intended to fill the void left by Joe Musgrove, who has endured multiple setbacks while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and is likely to miss his second straight season.
Future considerations
Should Pivetta’s health hold, he could finish the season with the Padres, but the team retains the option to void the final two years and $32 million of his four‑year, $55 million contract if he spends more than 130 consecutive days on the injured list. To make room on the 40‑man roster, San Diego optioned right‑hander Jhony Brito to Triple‑A El Paso and designated catcher Blake Hunt for assignment. Brito posted a 3.00 ERA over nine innings this season, while Hunt struck out in all three of his at‑bats for the Padres.
Overall, Pivetta enters the season with a 70‑78 record and a 4.47 ERA across 258 appearances (213 starts) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and the Padres. His return gives San Diego a veteran presence and a chance to build a competitive rotation as the team looks to improve on last year’s performance.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
