2025 Fantasy Baseball: Nick Pivetta Profile, Preview, Predictions

Based on the direction of Nick Pivetta's WHIP, he looks poised to set a new low in his ERA in 2025 after signing with the San Diego Padres. His first challenge is lowering the damage in home runs.

Nick Pivetta's 10Ks. pic.twitter.com/MR3GnS7dRZ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 26, 2024

SP – Nick Pivetta, SD (ADP – 197.6)

2025 NIck Pivetta Pitching Stats Profile | Nick Pivetta

Finding a winning destination has been an issue for Pivetta over his eight seasons in the majors. He has three winning records (2-0, 9-8, and 10-9) while never posting an ERA under 4.00. On the positive side, his pitches were more challenging to hit in 2023 (.208 BAA) and 2024 (.231 BAA) while showing improving command last year (2.2 walks per nine). Home runs (1.7 per nine in 2024) have been an issue every season in his career (1.5 per nine).

Last year, Pivetta dominated left-handed batters (.188 BAA), but righties teed him up too many times (.271 BAA and .510 SLG). He allowed 20 of his 28 home runs on the road (4.42 ERA).

A right elbow issue led to him landing on the injured list for 34 days after looking sharp over his first two starts (one run and nine baserunners over 11.0 innings with 13 strikeouts). From June 26th to July 29th, Pivetta had four 10-strikeout games, but he posted a 4.58 ERA with six home runs over 39.0 innings. His WHIP (1.102) over this span painted a much better profile. He had an ERA of 4.91 over 20 games from May through August due to giving up a home run once every 4.6 innings. His success came in strikeouts (128) and walks (27) over 106.1 innings. Pivetta pitched well in September (3-2 with a 2.54 ERA, 1.059 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts over 28.1 innings).

His average fastball (94.1) is just above the league average. He added a low-volume cutter (.382 BAA) last year while relying more on his slider (.210 BAA). Pivetta threw fewer four-seamers (.234 BAA) and curveballs (.167 BAA). His fly-ball rate (48.3) in 2024 was much higher than in 2023 (41.9%).

Fantasy Outlook: Taking a ride with Pivetta tends to be up and down despite multiple signs of growth
(more challenging to hit and better command). He turned down over $20 million from the Red Sox for one season in mid-November, but the Padres ponied up $55 million for four years in mid-February.

Drafters will chase his strikeouts late in drafts, hoping he cuts down on his mistakes in the strike zone. A carnival ride with moments of glory paired with heart-stopping seconds when an errant pitch crushes his day and fantasy dreams. On the positive side, Pivetta's new home ballpark invites an ERA under 4.00 for the first time in his career.

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