Nick Pivetta's Return to the Padres Nears with Upcoming Bullpen Session

Nick Pivetta is approaching a return to the San Diego Padres after a minor league rehab assignment was interrupted due to elbow discomfort. His last outing was on August 4, but he returned to pitch three innings for A-level Lake Elsinore on August 25 and followed that with 4 1/3 shutout innings for Triple-A El Paso on August 30.

This weekend, Pivetta will participate in a bullpen session at Petco Park, where Padres management will assess his readiness to rejoin the active roster. While he is expected to be a starter, Padres manager Craig Stammen mentioned that using Pivetta as a reliever remains a possibility.

Pivetta had a 4.50 ERA over 16 innings in four starts before being placed on the injured list in mid-April due to a flexor strain. Although his recovery has taken longer than anticipated, he is expected to contribute to the team's push for a wild card spot. The Padres' rotation has improved significantly since the All-Star break, with a collective 3.24 ERA, bolstered by recent additions to the pitching staff.