The signing of Nick Pivetta this spring is proving to be one of the best additions the San Diego Padres have made in a long time. 

On a sunny June afternoon at Petco Park, Nick Pivetta delivered his most dominant performance yet as a San Diego Padre: seven shutout innings, 10 strikeouts, zero walks, and just three hits allowed in a crisp 90-pitch outing against the Washington Nationals. It wasn’t just another quality start—it was a statement.

Why? Because no team has historically given Pivetta more trouble than the Nationals. Across 13 career appearances (10 starts) before this game, Pivetta was just 1–7 with a 9.42 ERA, allowing a .337 batting average and 1.037 OPS in 214 plate appearances. Washington had crushed him: 13 home runs, a .377 BABIP, and a tOPS+ of 175—meaning they performed 75% better than average when facing him.

But on this day, Pivetta flipped the script.

He pounded the zone (13-of-23 first-pitch strikes), carved up Washington with 23 called strikes and 12 whiffs, and faced just two three-ball counts. His ERA dropped to 3.36, and he remained undefeated at Petco Park in 2025, giving the Padres a much-needed lift in a pivotal series.

This wasn’t an outlier—it was the latest proof that Pivetta has not only stabilized the Padres’ rotation, but he’s emerged as one of its anchors.

Pivetta vs. His Career: A Transformation in Progress

Before arriving in San Diego, Pivetta was widely considered an enigma—elite raw stuff without the consistency to harness it. Between his time in Philadelphia and Boston, he owned a 4.67 ERA over 193 starts. Walks, long innings, and big innings were frequent issues. While his strikeout ability was never in question (26.0% K%), his command (8.5% BB%) and tendency to allow home runs (1.27 HR/9) kept him from reaching frontline status.

This year, though, he’s flipped the narrative:

2025 vs. Career (Pre-2025):
ERA: 3.36 vs. 4.67
FIP: 3.51 vs. 4.29
K%: 26.8% vs. 26.0%
BB%: 7.1% vs. 8.5%
HR/9: 0.86 vs. 1.27
WAR (entering June 25): 1.7

He’s on pace to post a career-best WAR total (2.6 is his current career high, which he earned in back to back season for Boston ’21 and ’22) and is giving the Padres consistent length—averaging just under six innings per start.

Pitch Usage Evolution

Pivetta has honed his arsenal in 2025. He now leans into four key pitches with confidence:

• 4-Seam Fastball (49%) – Improved vertical ride and elite pitch value

• Curveball (22%) – Velocity separation and late drop for swing-and-miss

• Sweeper/Slider (20%) – Horizontal breaker complements his curve

• Cutter (7%) – Mainly weaponized against lefties in mid-count situations

Rather than tinkering with too many options, Pivetta has become more efficient by doing less. His average exit velocity is down, and his xSLG (.415) is at a near-career low. By trusting a simplified mix, he’s commanding the zone better and putting hitters on the defensive early in counts.

The Niebla Effect

Pivetta’s improvement coincides with the broader excellence of the Padres’ pitching staff under Ruben Niebla, who took over as pitching coach in 2022 after two decades of development work with Cleveland. Niebla has built a reputation for marrying data with player psychology, building trust while keeping game plans simple and personalized.

“There’s a deep level of trust and relationship-building that comes with the job,” Niebla said in a feature for Azusa Pacific University. “I want my guys to feel they’re in control on the mound.”

That’s precisely what Pivetta looks like now—in control. He’s consistently getting ahead in counts, executing strikeout pitches more effectively, and managing innings with fewer mistakes. His walk rate has dropped to a career-low 7.1%, and he’s allowing fewer hard-hit balls than in recent seasons.

Midseason Dip, But a Strong Bounce-Back

While his full-season line is impressive, Pivetta did hit turbulence in June. After posting a 2.96 FIP with a .198 BAA through May, June brought harder contact and a dip in command:

March–May FIP: 2.96
June FIP (before 6/25): 5.06
BAA: .253
K%: Down from 28.9% to 21.5%
Barrel rate: Up from 10.0% to 13.4%

Even so, Pivetta’s underlying indicators remained steady. His first-pitch strike rate stayed north of 65%, and his CSW% remained around 30%. The foundation didn’t crack. And on June 25, against his toughest opponent, he delivered a full reset.

Times Through the Order & Pitch Count Splits

Pivetta has historically struggled late in outings, but 2025 shows signs of improvement.

1st time through order: .239 BA, .724 OPS
2nd time: .250 BA, .739 OPS
3rd time: .269 BA, .838 OPS

Pitch counts tell a similar story of sustainability:

1–50 pitches: .237 BA, .720 OPS
51–100 pitches: .259 BA, .789 OPS
101+: .224 BA, .762 OPS

He’s maintaining command and effectiveness deeper into games, especially when he works ahead early.

Padres Pitching Under Niebla: Among the Game’s Elite

Since Niebla arrived in 2022, the Padres’ pitching staff ranks near the top in multiple key metrics:

WAR (Fangraphs): 66.1 (4th)
ERA: 3.78 (4th)
FIP: 3.90 (5th)
K/9: 9.02 (6th)
HR/9: 1.07 (4th)

Niebla has guided the staff to consistency despite constant turnover, and Pivetta is the latest example of that success.

Contract Context: Delivering Early on a Bold Investment

The Padres signed Pivetta to a four-year, $55 million deal this past offseason—a backloaded contract with a $3M signing bonus, $1M salary in 2025, and opt-outs after 2026 and 2027. The contract includes a conditional team option that could terminate or extend the deal based on innings pitched and health status (sources: 10News.com, NESN).

So far, Pivetta is massively outproducing that value. For just $1 million this season, he’s delivering top-30 starter value by WAR. If he maintains this pace, he could either opt out and re-test the market or negotiate a more lucrative extension. Either way, he’s a win.

Rotation Stability Amid Injury Chaos

Pivetta’s emergence hasn’t just been impressive—it’s been essential.

Joe Musgrove is out for the season, recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Yu Darvish hasn’t thrown a pitch in 2025 due to lingering forearm and triceps injuries, and no return date has been set.
Michael King is also sidelined due to shoulder nerve issues and remains without a clear rehabilitation timeline.

In their absence, Pivetta has gone from depth piece to cornerstone.

Conclusion: From Enigma to Essential

Nick Pivetta may not generate headlines like Dylan Cease or Yu Darvish, but he’s giving the Padres exactly what they need: reliability, upside, and postseason-caliber innings—on a bargain contract.

His June 25 gem against the Nationals wasn’t just about redemption—it was confirmation. The enigma from Philadelphia and Boston has evolved into a dependable presence in San Diego’s rotation.

And for a team chasing October without three of its projected top four starters, Pivetta’s performance isn’t just encouraging—it’s become one of the biggest reasons the Padres are still in the fight.

J.J. Rodriguez

J.J. Rodriguez is a passionate sports writer making his debut with East Village Times. Born and raised in Southwest Florida, he is a father of four and an eight-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran who has lived in Southern California since 1996. A devoted fan of the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Florida Gators, J.J. brings a lifetime of sports enthusiasm to his writing. He’s currently pursuing a degree in elementary education and enjoys life as an empty-nester with his wife of 19 years, Lisa.