Padres Pitcher Nick Pivetta Exits Early with Elbow Injury

Closer Mason Miller earns praise, while Walker Buehler bounces back with dominant outing

Apr. 13, 2026 at 12:59pm

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A fractured, geometric painting in navy, green, and orange hues depicting the motion of a baseball pitcher in an abstract, deconstructed style.A cubist interpretation of a Padres pitcher's explosive delivery captures the raw energy and unpredictability of the game.San Diego Today

San Diego Padres pitcher Nick Pivetta left his start against the Colorado Rockies early due to a stiff elbow, raising concerns about the extent of the injury. Meanwhile, Padres closer Mason Miller continued his dominant performance on the mound, earning praise from his teammates, and veteran starter Walker Buehler bounced back from two rough outings to deliver a strong three-hit performance.

Why it matters

Pivetta's injury is a significant concern for the Padres, as the team will need to closely monitor his condition and determine the next steps. Miller's continued excellence in the closer role is a positive sign for the Padres' bullpen, while Buehler's bounce-back outing suggests he may be regaining his form after a shaky start to the season.

The details

Pivetta was perfect through three innings before being pulled in the fourth due to the elbow issue. Manager Craig Stammen said the team was being cautious with the veteran right-hander. Pivetta himself admitted he was unsure of the extent of the injury and would need to wait and see how it progresses in the coming days. Meanwhile, rookie closer Mason Miller has been dominant, with his mix of high-velocity fastballs and a developing changeup making him a nightmare for opposing hitters. Teammate Jackson Merrill praised Miller's 'once-in-a-generation type stuff.' Veteran starter Walker Buehler also turned in a strong performance, bouncing back from two rough outings to hold the Rockies to just three hits over six innings. Buehler credited improved mechanics and a renewed sense of urgency for his improved production on the mound.

  • Pivetta exited the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on April 12, 2026.
  • The Padres beat the Rockies 7-2 on April 12, 2026 to improve to 10-6 on the season.

The players

Nick Pivetta

A right-handed pitcher for the San Diego Padres who left his start early due to a stiff elbow.

Craig Stammen

The manager of the San Diego Padres who discussed Pivetta's early exit from the game.

Mason Miller

The dominant closer for the San Diego Padres who has earned praise from his teammates for his overpowering stuff.

Jackson Merrill

A Padres player who commented on the difficulty of facing Mason Miller in the batter's box.

Walker Buehler

A veteran right-handed pitcher for the San Diego Padres who bounced back from two rough starts to deliver a strong outing.

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What they’re saying

“'Any time it's someone's elbow, especially a pitcher, it's reason for caution. And that's probably why we took him out of the game when we did.'”

— Craig Stammen, Padres Manager

“'To be honest, I'm perplexed. I think just take it day by day. I'm not going to put a single thing on it. … [The] human body is different. People feel things differently. I'm just trying to process it, work through it myself. I think the next coming days, I'll probably see how it feels and be able to dictate what type of plan I want moving forward.'”

— Nick Pivetta, Padres Pitcher

“'It's pretty ridiculous. You get in there, you don't know what's coming. You don't know if it's gonna be 87, 95 or 105 [mph]. You just gotta be ready for everything, and it's pretty tough being ready for all that.'”

— Jackson Merrill, Padres Player

“'A little more urgency. Obviously, kind of mentally and [physically] struggling the first two. The coaching staff and I have been doing a lot of work and the strength staff and training staff, trying to get back to some things that I used to do really well. And I just think the throw is improving and the delivery is improving. So really good to get a good one under my belt.'”

— Walker Buehler, Padres Pitcher

What’s next

The Padres will closely monitor Pivetta's elbow injury in the coming days to determine the severity and next steps for the veteran right-hander.

The takeaway

This story highlights the ups and downs of the Padres' pitching staff, with Pivetta's injury raising concerns, but also positive developments with the continued dominance of closer Mason Miller and a bounce-back outing from veteran starter Walker Buehler. The team's ability to navigate these pitching challenges will be crucial to their success this season.