The vibes could not be better for the San Diego Padres. They are in the middle of a seven-game winning streak, and have now won four consecutive series. Wednesday, April 15, marked the most improbable win of the season for the Padres, as they overcame an early 6-0 deficit. The win included a five-run ninth inning rally, despite the Mariners utilizing two-time All-Star closer and former Padres player Andrés Muñoz.
The team reeled off three straight two-out hits as they kept their winning streak going. However, aside from the on-field results, the team has recently received some bad news from their starting rotation. Prior to Wednesday’s game, manager Craig Stammen told reporters that starting pitcher Nick Pivetta’s MRI, which he underwent after exiting last Sunday’s win with what was at the time described as elbow stiffness, revealed that he suffered a flexor strain in his right elbow.
San Diego Padres’ Nick Pivetta Update
Pivetta spoke to reporters before Stammen did and did not disclose what the MRI results were. He told reporters, “It’s really frustrating. I was feeling really well, felt like I was pitching better. I love contributing to the team, take great pride in playing baseball for the fans, playing for my teammates.”
Padres beat writer AJ Cassavell noted that Pivetta previously suffered a similar injury with the Red Sox. Cassavell wrote:
“Two years ago, while he was with the Red Sox, Pivetta sustained the same injury in April and missed a little over a month. It seems likely his absence could stretch beyond that this time around.”
Regarding his recovery process, Stammen said, “He’s definitely going to take some time off throwing, let it rest, let it heal and then get back on a throwing program and a strengthening program,” He added, “It’s probably going to be more weeks and maybe months than just specific days. So he’s going to take some time, but we feel pretty confident he’s going to get back this year.”
Padres Starting Rotation
While the news that Pivetta will miss considerable time is certainly bad news for San Diego, it appears that the Padres avoided the worst-case scenario, which would have been losing Pivetta for the season. Pivetta was a pivotal part of last season’s playoff roster, as he led the rotation with a 13-5 record and a 2.87 ERA across 181.2 innings.
In his place, San Diego will turn to right-handed starter and knuckleball specialist Matt Waldron. Waldron, who has started 33 games for the Padres over the past three seasons, has an 8-15 record and a 4.86 ERA.
During Waldron’s brief spring training outings, he showed positive signs as his velocity was up. Both Waldron and Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla stated that had been a focus for Waldron this offseason. The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Tom Krasovic said regarding Waldron’s improved speed, “He’s throwing harder than last season: 91.4 mph across 52 fastballs, up 1.4 ticks from his brief stretch with the ’25 Padres. At 81.5 mph, the knuckleball is 2 mph quicker. Waldron said he’s pitching better. That is, after all, the point. The fastball command that Niebla described as his superpower has accompanied the gains in velocity.”
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