Musgrove, Pivetta face hitters -- what it means for SD's beleaguered rotation

MIAMI -- Help seems to be on the way for the Padres’ ailing rotation. But here’s the important question: Will it arrive in time?

Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta both faced hitters at the team’s Spring Training complex in Peoria, Ariz., on Friday. They threw an inning apiece in a live batting practice setting, with Musgrove throwing 23 pitches and Pivetta 20.

It’s the first time they’ve faced hitters since they each landed on the IL with right elbow inflammation (Musgrove in Spring Training, and Pivetta in early April). They'll remain in Arizona for at least one more live batting practice session next week. Rehab stints could follow.

Both will require lengthy buildup periods. Still, it’s one step closer to their return -- which could come at some point in mid-to-late August.

That’s the good news. Here’s the not-so-good news: The Padres’ season might be hanging in the balance right now. With Musgrove and Pivetta thousands of miles away.

San Diego owns the worst record in the National League over the last two months. The biggest reason? A struggling starting rotation.

The Trade Deadline looms on Aug. 3, and the Padres are going to need to pick a direction. They're four games back of the final NL Wild Card spot after Friday's 4-2 victory over Miami, another Wild Card contender. Unless they add a starter at the Deadline, it’s hard to envision them staying afloat until Pivetta and Musgrove return.

But here’s the catch: If they’re so far outside of the playoff picture, would they really spend resources to acquire a starter? Or would they instead trade from their pitching depth? Much of that will be determined by the next eight games.

The presence of Pivetta and Musgrove is merely another wrinkle in the Deadline plans of general manager A.J. Preller. Sure, his rotation hasn’t been up to par. But it could be a very different looking rotation come September if Pivetta and Musgrove are back.

Pivetta posted a 2.87 ERA in 31 starts for the Padres last season, finishing sixth in NL Cy Young voting. He landed on the IL in April with elbow inflammation and was later diagnosed with a flexor strain.

Musgrove, meanwhile, tore his UCL during the 2024 postseason and underwent Tommy John surgery that October. He experienced a setback in March after his only Spring Training start. He posted a 3.20 ERA in four seasons with the Padres from 2021-24.

There’s no denying how impactful the return of Pivetta and/or Musgrove could be for a team with the fourth-highest ERA (4.69) from its starting pitchers. But there are also no guarantees that they would instantly revert to front-of-the-rotation-type pitchers. Elbow injuries are tricky.

And who knows where the Padres will be in the standings -- or what their roster will look like -- by the time they’re back.