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Phillies: Nick Pivetta Coming Into MLB Hot From Lehigh Valley

By George Stockburger

Mar 11, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Canada pitcher Nick Pivetta (16) throws a pitch against Colombia in the first inning during the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Canada pitcher Nick Pivetta (16) throws a pitch against Colombia in the first inning during the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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If any of the Phillies top pitching prospects deserved a call-up, it’s Nick Pivetta

Injuries have ravaged the Phillies starting rotation once again, starting with Clay Buchholz needing forearm surgery and Aaron Nola suffering a lower back strain.

Jake Thompson appeared in the major leagues last season but clearly needs some seasoning. Ben Lively sat in the bullpen while Pat Neshek was on paternity leave but never made an appearance before returning to Lehigh Valley.

Zach Eflin made his return after Buchholz went down, and impressed after settling down in his first start of the year.

Now that Nola is out for the foreseeable future the Phillies were once again forced to tap into their deep pitching prospect pool.

This turn around the rotation the Phillies selected Nick Pivetta, a righty who celebrated his 24th birthday in February. Since being traded to Philadelphia from Washington in exchange for closer Jonathan Papelbon, Pivetta has risen among the gluttony of pitching in the minor league system.

Through three starts for Lehigh Valley in 2017 Pivetta has a 0.95 ERA and two earned runs in 19 innings of work. He’s gone at least six innings in each of those starts while holding opponents to less than five hits in those appearances.

Prior to the regular season Pivetta pitched a team-high four innings for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic with a 2.25 ERA.

Pivetta makes up a Phillies rotation exclusively built with right-handers with Nola out. He’s scheduled to make his major league debut against the Dodgers in Chavez Revine, who have fallen below .500 thanks to the injury bug.

Next: Phillies Sweep Braves: Recapping the Dominant Series

Don’t expect to see Chase Utley for much of the series considering he’s hitting .034 through 29 at-bats, although the injury to Logan Forsythe could force the 38-year-old second baseman to start at least once.

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