Padres Opening Day starter Nick Pivetta will take the mound for the first time in nearly five months when San Diego hosts the Washington Nationals on Monday.
The Padres activated the right-handed Pivetta off the 60-day injured list on Monday after he recovered from an elbow flexor strain in his pitching arm.
Pivetta went 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA in three rehab appearances – two outings (one start) at Class A Lake Elsinore and one start for Triple-A El Paso — but pitched just eight total innings.
Pivetta will certainly be on a pitch count against Washington. In fact, Padres manager Craig Stammen said right-hander Randy Vasquez will be available in case of a short outing.
Pivetta, 33, was hurt in his fourth start of the season, leaving the game while pitching to the leadoff batter in the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies on April 12. He is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA.
In 2025, Pivetta was San Diego’s best pitcher and posted career bests in wins (13), ERA (2.87), WHIP (0.99), innings (181 2/3) and strikeouts (190).
The Padres have been bracing for Pivetta’s return and filled a couple of holes in their rotation by acquiring San Francisco Giants left-hander Robbie Ray and Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize at the trade deadline.
In addition, right-hander Joe Musgrove has had multiple setbacks while recovering from Tommy John surgery and is close to missing his second consecutive season.
Overall, Pivetta owns a 70-78 record with a 4.47 ERA in 258 appearances (213 starts) for the Philadelphia Phillies (2017-20), Boston Red Sox (2020-24) and Padres.
The Padres could part ways with Pivetta after this season because he spent more than 130 consecutive days on the IL. That development gives them the option of voiding the final two years and $32 million of his four-year, $55 million deal.
San Diego optioned right-hander Jhony Brito to El Paso in a corresponding move and designated catcher Blake Hunt for assignment to open up a 40-man roster spot for Pivetta.
Brito, 28, had a 3.00 ERA in five appearances covering nine innings this season. Hunt, 27, made two appearances for the Padres and struck out in all three at-bats.
