San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta picked up 10 punchouts in a masterful performance on Friday night against the Rockies. He went seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits, all to Kyle Farmer. He got six runs of support in the fifth inning and retired the side in order in the seventh inning before handing a 7-0 lead to the bullpen to finish out. The Rockies lead the MLB with a 29.4% strikeout rate and continue to be a great matchup to target for DFS or streaming starting pitchers. Pivetta improved to 2-1 in his three starts this season, with 10 hits against and 18 strikeouts in 17 innings. He's scheduled for another home start in his next outing, but it will be in a tougher matchup against the visiting Cubs next Wednesday afternoon.
Nick Pivetta Tallies Four Strikeouts In Spring Debut
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta tossed 2 2/3 shutout frames in his spring training debut on Tuesday. Pivetta signed a four-year, $55 million contract with the Padres in February and was slightly behind schedule to start camp. However, the 32-year-old looked sharp in his first taste of game action as he tallied four punchouts and allowed just one base runner (via a free pass). Last season, Pivetta logged 145 2/3 innings with a 4.14 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP with the Boston Red Sox. He tallied an impressive 172 strikeouts and held a strong 6.1 percent walk rate. He also generated a 3.51 xERA with a .221 xBA, suggesting he should see significant positive regression during the 2025 campaign. Fantasy managers should view Pivetta as an intriguing option in the later rounds when looking to boost their strikeout totals.
Padres Would Target Jack Flaherty, Nick Pivetta If They Trade A Starting Pitcher
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the San Diego Padres would target Jack Flaherty or Nick Pivetta in free agency if they trade Dylan Cease or Michael King. Both Cease and King have been around trade discussions throughout the offseason and have begun to see their market begin to heat up over the past week. The Chicago Cubs and New York Mets have been reported to have shown interest in both of these pitchers. However, Heyman noted that if the Padres were to trade one of these, they would look to target a replacement. Last season, Flaherty spent time with the Tigers before moving to Los Angeles to win a World Series. Across 162 frames, Flaherty struck out 194 batters with a 3.17 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Pivetta logged 145 2/3 innings with a 4.14 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. He struck out 172 batters with a strong 6.1% walk rate.
The Toronto Blue Jays are among the many teams that are interested in free-agent right-hander Nick Pivetta, who is a Canadian native. Pivetta declined a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Boston Red Sox, so any team willing to sign him in free agency will have to give up draft-pick compensation to Boston. Despite never having an ERA under 4.00 in eight major-league seasons, Pivetta has a strong market this offseason as a free agent. The 31-year-old had a 4.14 ERA (4.07 FIP), a 1.13 WHIP and a 172:36 K:BB in 145 2/3 innings over 27 outings (26 starts) for Boston in 2024. Strikeouts are the main draw with Pivetta after having over a 30% strikeout rate the last two seasons. When he does allow contact, though, it's typically hard, and home runs have been an issue. A move out of the American League East would probably be a plus for his fantasy value in 2025.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Cincinnati Reds have checked in on free-agent starting pitcher Nick Pivetta. Sherman also noted that the Reds tried to acquire lefty Garrett Crochet, who was eventually traded to the Boston Red Sox earlier on Wednesday. Last season, Pivetta posted a 4.14 ERA and 1.13 WHIP across 145 2/3 innings of work. He generated an excellent 28.9% strikeout rate and showed great command with a 6.1% walk rate. However, he generated ground balls at a weak 33.4% rate and allowed hard contact at a high 38.9% mark. The Reds have already been active this offseason, acquiring starting pitching, as they've traded for Brady Singer and re-signed Nick Martinez, and adding a high-upside strikeout option in Pivetta would further strengthen this relatively weak rotation.
Free-agent right-hander Nick Pivetta declined the Boston Red Sox's $21.05 million qualifying offer on Tuesday. It means that if Pivetta signs with another team on the free-agent market this offseason, the Red Sox will receive draft-pick compensation. The 31-year-old should be able to receive a pretty lucrative long-term contract on the open market, but it remains to be seen if he'll return to Beantown. In his eighth year in the big leagues in 2024, the Canadian hurler went 6-12 with a 4.14 ERA (4.07 FIP), a 1.13 WHIP and a 172:36 K:BB in 145 2/3 innings over his 27 outings (26 starts). He has a career 4.76 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 26.0% strikeout rate and 8.6% walk rate, although his strikeout rate has been over 30% in the last two seasons in Boston. Leaving the tough American League East could be good news for Pivetta's fantasy value.
Boston Red Sox right-handed pitcher Nick Pivetta received a qualifying offer, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Pivetta will now have until November 19 to accept the offer or choose to test free agency. This past summer, the 31-year-old posted a 4.14 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, with a solid 36:172 BB:K ratio across 145 2/3 innings of work. Pivetta generated strikeouts at an elite 28.9% mark thanks to his sweeper, then generated an impressive 35.0% whiff rate. In addition, he also showed solid command with a 6.1% walk rate but struggled with allowing hard contact as he held a 10.1% barrel rate. Fantasy managers should view the 31-year-old as a safe bet for strikeouts with risk, given his hard contact rates heading into the 2025 season.
Nick Pivetta Fans 10 In Game-Resumption Appearance
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta technically made his first relief appearance of the season in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Blue Jays. The game, which was a resumption of the June 26 matchup, picked up in the second inning. Pivetta pitched six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits (including a solo home run) and no walks with 10 strikeouts. The 31-year-old is now 4-9 with a 4.61 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and a 10.91 K/9 rate in 111 1/3 IP. His numbers would be more appealing overall for fantasy purposes if not for his high 1.94 HR/9 rate, which has likely impacted his ERA. He is slated to face a favorable matchup at the Tigers in his next start, where, hopefully, he should have a better chance of keeping the ball in the yard.
Boston Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and is in line to return to the rotation to start on Thursday at Camden Yards against the hosting division-rival Baltimore Orioles. Pivetta missed a month of action in the first half of the season due to injury. The 31-year-old is healthy now, but the Red Sox decided to give him a little break after he allowed 13 runs (12 earned) on 18 hits (six homers) while walking two and striking out 21 in 14 innings in his last three starts. The Canadian hurler has a solid 29.9% strikeout rate and career-best 5.9% walk rate but has been hurt by the long ball. Pivetta is fully capable of finishing strong for fantasy managers in mixed leagues to close out the year, but his next start on Thursday against one of the best offenses in the league isn't ideal from a streaming perspective.
Boston Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta is doing well and is expected to be back for the team on either Wednesday or Thursday this coming week. If he starts on Wednesday, he will pitch the series finale against the Texas Rangers; if he pitches on Thursday, he will get the series opener against the Baltimore Orioles. On the season, the veteran right-hander has five wins, a 4.44 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and 117 strikeouts in 95 innings. The Red Sox are fighting for their playoff lives with a 61-53 record going into play Saturday night, so a return from Pivetta will certainly give their chances a lift.
Nick Pivetta
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Padres
