Padres Lose Pivetta for Weeks or Months After Elbow Strain

San Diego's ace right-hander expected to miss significant time with a flexor strain in his throwing elbow.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:22am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion broken down into overlapping planes of muted earth tones, conceptually illustrating the complexities of arm injuries in the sport.A cubist interpretation of a pitcher's delivery captures the complex, fragmented movements that can lead to elbow injuries like the one sidelining the Padres' Nick Pivetta.San Diego Today

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta is expected to miss significant time after an MRI revealed a flexor strain in his right elbow. The team has not provided a specific timeline for his return, but manager Craig Stammen said it will likely be 'more weeks and maybe months' before Pivetta can resume throwing. Pivetta, who was the Padres' best pitcher in 2025, is confident he will pitch again this season but acknowledged the injury is 'really frustrating' as he was pitching well to start the year.

Why it matters

Pivetta's injury is a major blow to the Padres, who were counting on him to anchor their starting rotation this season. The team will now have to rely more heavily on the rest of their pitching staff, including Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish, while Pivetta recovers. His absence also opens the door for other pitchers like Matt Waldron to step up and contribute.

The details

Pivetta left his start on Sunday with what the team initially called elbow stiffness. An MRI later revealed a flexor strain, which will require Pivetta to rest his arm and go through a strengthening program before he can resume throwing. Pivetta said he's 'feeling better day by day' but acknowledged the injury will take time to heal. The Padres have not ruled out Pivetta needing surgery, but he is focused on his rehab for now.

  • Pivetta left his start on Sunday with elbow stiffness.
  • The Padres placed Pivetta on the 15-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game.
  • Pivetta is currently shut down and has no timetable to return.

The players

Nick Pivetta

A right-handed starting pitcher for the San Diego Padres who is expected to miss significant time with a flexor strain in his throwing elbow.

Craig Stammen

The manager of the San Diego Padres, who provided an update on Pivetta's injury and recovery timeline.

Matt Waldron

A right-handed pitcher who will take Pivetta's spot in the Padres' starting rotation while he is injured.

Lucas Giolito

A free agent right-handed pitcher that the Padres have shown interest in potentially signing as a replacement for Pivetta.

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What they’re saying

“He's definitely going to take some time off throwing, let it rest, let it heal and then get back on the throwing program and strengthening program.”

— Craig Stammen, Manager

“For me, it's just focusing on rehab. I have really good strength, which is a positive. I think just listening to my body, making sure that I'm listening, actually listening to it, not just pitching through things and taking the right measures and leaning on the great medical staff we have here.”

— Nick Pivetta

What’s next

The Padres will activate right-handed pitcher Matt Waldron from the injured list to take Pivetta's spot in the rotation for now. The team has also shown interest in signing free agent pitcher Lucas Giolito as a potential replacement for Pivetta.

The takeaway

Pivetta's injury is a major setback for the Padres, who were counting on him to be a key part of their starting rotation this season. His absence will test the depth of the team's pitching staff, but they remain hopeful he can return at some point this year and contribute to their playoff push.