Padres Place Nick Pivetta on Injured List With Elbow Injury, Recall Surprise Pitcher

The Padres will have to manage without one of their frontline starters as they pursue a free agent to bolster the rotation.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:24pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in muted earth tones depicts the motion of a baseball pitcher, with sharp, overlapping planes representing the disruption to the Padres' starting rotation.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the fragmented motion of a pitcher on the mound, reflecting the Padres' fractured starting rotation.San Diego Today

The San Diego Padres have placed right-handed pitcher Nick Pivetta on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation. In a corresponding move, the team has recalled right-handed pitcher Alek Jacob from the minors to provide bullpen depth. Pivetta's injury leaves the Padres' starting rotation thin, and the team is reportedly pursuing free agent Lucas Giolito as a potential replacement.

Why it matters

The Padres were counting on Pivetta to be a key part of their starting rotation this season after he emerged as their most reliable starter in 2025. His injury is a significant setback for the team, which was already dealing with a thin starting staff. The pursuit of Giolito shows the Padres are being proactive in addressing this issue, but it remains to be seen if they can land the free agent pitcher.

The details

Pivetta left his start on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies with the elbow issue, and the Padres have placed him on the injured list retroactive to April 13. Jacob has been called up to provide bullpen depth during the team's series against the Seattle Mariners. The Padres' original plan was for Matt Waldron to replace Pivetta in the rotation, as Waldron has been rehabbing from hemorrhoid surgery this spring. However, the team is now reportedly pursuing Giolito, a free agent who was linked to the Padres in the offseason, as a potential replacement for Pivetta.

  • Pivetta left his start on Sunday, April 13 with the elbow injury.
  • The Padres placed Pivetta on the injured list retroactive to Monday, April 13.

The players

Nick Pivetta

A right-handed pitcher for the San Diego Padres who was expected to be a key part of their starting rotation this season.

Alek Jacob

A right-handed pitcher who has been recalled from the minors by the Padres to provide bullpen depth.

Matt Waldron

A right-handed pitcher for the Padres who was originally expected to replace Pivetta in the rotation after returning from hemorrhoid surgery.

Lucas Giolito

A free agent right-handed pitcher that the Padres are reportedly pursuing as a potential replacement for Pivetta in the starting rotation.

A.J. Preller

The president of baseball operations for the San Diego Padres, who is trying to orchestrate a deal for Giolito.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's too early to tell for me. I just tried to go out there, do the best I could, get as deep in the baseball game as I possibly could. Obviously, didn't feel good. I came out of the game.”

— Nick Pivetta

What’s next

The Padres are pursuing free agent right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito as a potential replacement for Pivetta in the starting rotation.

The takeaway

Pivetta's injury is a significant setback for the Padres, who were counting on him to be a key part of their starting rotation this season. The team's thin starting staff has forced them to get creative, pursuing free agent Lucas Giolito as a potential replacement. This move highlights the importance of depth and the challenges teams can face when dealing with unexpected injuries to their pitching staff.