Padres’ Nick Pivetta makes ‘obvious’ declaration about elbow injury forcing early exit

The San Diego Padres took a week to find their footing in the 2026 regular season, but they are now looking more like the franchise that has advanced to the playoffs four times in the last six years. Given the issues other reputable National League clubs are currently facing, perhaps this group will emerge as the biggest impediment to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ reign of terror. The Friars have their own problems, however, and they namely revolve around health. Nick Pivetta is the latest pitcher to sustain an injury.

The Canadian right-handed starter left Sunday’s 7-2 win over the Colorado Rockies after throwing three perfect innings in Petco Park. He experienced right elbow stiffness, which is something that also affected him during spring training, according to manager Craig Stammen. Pivetta tried to push through, but hurlers cannot take risks when it comes to that part of the body. He was also battling some sort of illness.

“I just tried to go out there and do the best I could and get as deep in the baseball game as I possibly could,” he said, via ESPN. “Obviously, I didn’t feel good.”

Pivetta is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA, 24 strikeouts, 1.125 WHIP and .539 OPS allowed through 16 innings. The 33-year-old is generally available, so San Diego will hope for the best regarding this injury. Although the Padres (10-6) are in solid standing at the moment, they probably cannot withstand many more blows to their pitching staff.

Reliever Jeremiah Estrada is out of action due to elbow tendinitis, newcomer Griffin Canning is working his way back from a ruptured Achilles, Joe Musgrove still has no concrete timetable for return after suffering a setback in March and Yu Darvish is sidelined for the entire season after undergoing elbow surgery last November. San Diego must figure out how to navigate all these elbow-centric obstacles, which is an inevitable consequence of 21st Century pitching.

The Padres will monitor Nick Pivetta and see if he is able to make his next start. But the initial reaction is fairly optimistic.

“I think we caught it early enough this time,” Stammen said, via ESPN. “You know hopefully things will be all right, but anytime it’s someone’s elbow, especially a pitcher, it’s reason for caution.”

The post Padres’ Nick Pivetta makes ‘obvious’ declaration about elbow injury forcing early exit appeared first on ClutchPoints.