Another Padres Starter Makes Progress On Rehab Trail

Pitching reinforcements are on the way for the San Diego Padres, as starter Nick Pivetta had a successful rehab start at Single-A Lake Elsinore as he finally took a positive step forward in his rehab work. 

Pivetta threw 47 pitches in 3 innings, with 35 of them strikes. He gave up a pair of home runs while getting his work in, as he gave up three runs while striking out four, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. 

It was a huge improvement over his last start, when Pivetta walked off the mound after 14 pitches during his last rehab start for the same team and later indicated that his elbow “didn’t feel right.” 

The Padres pitching staff has been getting right lately, and the right-hander may find himself what could actually be a crowded mix. San Diego traded for Casey Mize and Robbie Ray at the deadline to join Michael King and Randy Vasquez, and Joe Musgrove is also making progress in his rehab effort. 

Pivetta went out early this season after struggling in spring training with what was eventually diagnosed as a flexor straing in his right elbow. The Padres shut him down immediately, then started his rehab again in August only to face another setback. 

According to Cassavell, though, Pivetta was never completely shut down, as he kept playing catch and trying to make his way back to the mound. This was due in part to an injury clause in his contract that had had his player option converted to a team option if he didn’t make it back by Aug. 22, and Pivetta did in fact have that clause converted as he wasn’t able to make it back by the deadline. 

His goal might be to pitch an inning with the Padres by the end of the month, as that would make him eligible for postseason play, but that’s specuative at this point and getting way ahead of schedule. 

San Diego would also love to have Pivetta back down the stretch for the playoff run, which is by no means certain with the Padres currently holding a slim lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third wild card spot. 

There’s also the possibility of another setback, of course, which would leave the question of next season and the labor uncertainty that’s already starting to muddle the personnel questions for many teams. For now the focus is on getting Pivetta back healthy, with this step hopefully representing a significant step.