A look back at RHP Nick Pivetta’s career with Phillies
By Matthew C
The Phillies have optioned Nick Pivetta, meaning the possible end of his career with the team
In long-overdue news, the Philadelphia Phillies announced in a series of roster moves that RHP Nick Pivetta was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Should this be the end of time with the Phillies; let’s take a look back at his time in Philadelphia.
Pivetta played all four years of his professional career in MLB in red pinstripes. Over those four years, he failed to post an earned run average lower than 4.60 in a complete season.
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Making his big-league debut with the club back in 2017 — after being dealt to the organization a couple years prior from the Washington Nationals for Jonathan Papelbon — Pivetta finished the season with an 8-10 record and a 6.02 ERA. It only went more downhill from there. The next season, Pivetta posted a 4.77 ERA in 32 games started.
Another rough outing from Nick Pivetta.
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) August 11, 2020
The guys of Phillies Postgame Live discuss the problems they saw. pic.twitter.com/cCrRM41XZ7
In 93 2/3 innings pitched in 2019, Pivetta allowed 56 earned runs and gave up 20 home runs. He finished 2019 with a 5.38 earned run average.
Not only has Pivetta struggled during the regular season, but he also even struggled in one of his starts in an intrasquad game during summer camp last month.
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While starting off his MLB career as a starter and moving to the bullpen — following his consistent struggles — Pivetta continued to struggle in the bullpen, only further questioning his future in the Phillies organization and even in Major League Baesball.
In his potentially last appearance in a Phillies uniform on Monday against the Atlanta Braves, Pivetta pitched just 1/3 of an inning and allowed six runs on six hits. It’s safe to say that he has lost his stuff. Overall in 2020, the right-hander had yielded 10 hits, 10 runs (all earned), three home runs and one walk spanning just 5 2/3 innings en route to a 15.88 ERA.
At least for now, optioning him and getting him off the major-league roster seems the best fit for both Pivetta and the Phillies as they look to fight for a playoff spot.