Padres SP Nick Pivetta (elbow inflammation) heads to IL

Field Level Media|published: Tue 14th April, 20:17 2026

Apr 12, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta (27), left, leaves the field with a trainer during the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta, who recorded career highs in multiple pitching categories in 2025, will make a trip to the 15-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation, the team announced on Tuesday.

Pivetta retired the first nine Colorado Rockies' batters on Sunday and fanned four in three innings. But the right-hander was removed from the game after throwing a fastball to Edouard Julien, who was leading off the top of the fourth.

The move is retroactive to Monday, and the Padres have recalled right-handed reliever Alek Jacob from Triple-A El Paso.

Jacob, 27, has pitched in 39 games for San Diego over the previous three seasons and made a career-high 29 appearances in 2025. He posted a 1-0 record with a 5.13 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.

In 31 starts last season, Pivetta posted career bests in wins (13), ERA (2.87), WAR (5.2), WHIP (0.99), innings pitched (181 2/3) and strikeouts (190).

Pivetta, 33, has made four starts to date in 2026 and sports a 1-2 record with a 4.50 ERA. After allowing six earned runs in three innings to Detroit in the season opener, he had permitted only two earned runs in 13 innings (1.38 ERA) over three April starts. Pivetta struck out 20 and walked only three this month.

The 10-year major league veteran has a career record of 70-78 with a 4.47 ERA. He pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies (2017-20) and Boston Red Sox (2020-24) before signing with San Diego on a four-year, $55 million deal before the 2025 season.

--Field Level Media

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