Nick

Pivetta

The next steps for both veteran right-handers are still to be determined, but they’re inching closer to beginning minor league rehab assignments. Both should be expected to rejoin the Padres’ rotation at some point during the month of August.

“People who have seen Musgrove and Pivetta throw or gotten reports about those throwing sessions have expressed greater optimism about their progress over the past week or so,” Acee continues. Pivetta was scheduled to throw a live batting practice this week. Both would need to be setback-free to continue to a rehab assignment, obviously, but it sounds like the Padres could get rotation reinforcements in late August or September.

Pivetta is slated to face hitters for the first time since landing on the injured list with a flexor strain back in mid-April. He made it through an up-and-down bullpen session last Friday without any issues. The expectation from the start was that Pivetta would pitch again this season and he appears to be on track to make that a reality. There should be a definitive return timetable once he’s ready to make his first minor league rehab start at some point in August.

It’s the first substantive update regarding Pivetta’s progress since he landed on the shelf with a right elbow flexor strain back in mid-April. The 33-year-old strikeout artist will continue ramping up his throwing progression in the coming weeks and should be ready for a couple minor league rehab starts in August. It sounds like there’s a decent chance he makes it back to San Diego at some point in the second half.

It’s merely a procedural move to free up a spot on San Diego’s 40-man roster. Pivetta remains without a return timeline and still hasn’t resumed a throwing progression after hitting the injured list with a flexor strain back on April 15. The Padres are optimistic he’ll pitch again this season, but that’s unlikely to happen until the second half of the year, if at all.

Pivetta’s return timeline remains a bit nebulous but the Padres have expressed confidence that he’ll pitch again this season. The 33-year-old hit the injured list with a right elbow flexor strain back on April 15. The biggest variable for fantasy managers to watch is whether he’s able to ramp up his throwing progression without any soreness or discomfort.

Padres manager Craig Stammen told reporters they believe it’ll be weeks, maybe months before Pivetta returns to San Diego’s rotation. The 33-year-old expressed confidence he’ll pitch again this season, but fantasy managers should still anticipate a lengthy absence. The greater concern is that flexor strains are often a precursor to more significant elbow issues and can sometimes lead to UCL surgery if rest and rehabilitation prove ineffective. There should be a more definitive return timetable once Pivetta ramps up a throwing program. It’s not a worst-case scenario, but it’s hardly an encouraging update.

Pivetta declined to share with reporters what an MRI on his right elbow revealed, which isn’t a great sign. The 33-year-old will not require surgery, for now, after hitting the injured list with elbow inflammation earlier this week. He’s opted for the rest and rehabilitation route and is likely facing a multi-week absence, even in a best-case scenario. There should be a clearer return timetable once he ramps up a throwing program. It’s not a worst-case scenario, but it’s challenging for fantasy managers to feel great about this latest development.

No word yet on how much time Pivetta will miss. The 33-year-old veteran has presumably undergone an MRI to determine the severity of the issue and there should be a clearer timetable at some point this week. He was lifted from Sunday’s start against the Rockies after firing three shutout frames. It’ll be Matt Waldron coming up to take his spot in San Diego’s rotation.

Waldron would be taking the place of Nick Pivetta (elbow) later this week against the Angels. The 29-year-old righty is currently on the injured list due to a well-publicized glute infection from back in spring training. It’s a strong matchup but he’s not worth the risk as a streaming option in fantasy leagues.