PHILADELPHIA -- Nick Pivetta left the Phillies last month knowing he needed to be more efficient throwing pitches.
He gets another shot Monday night against the Braves at SunTrust Park.
Pivetta rejoined the Phillies before Sunday's 9-7 victory over the Giants at Citizens Bank Park, but he will not be officially recalled until Monday. The Phillies optioned first baseman/outfielder Brock Stassi to Double-A Reading following Sunday's game. Stassi was the team's best story in Spring Training, making the team after being a 33rd-round pick in the 2011 Draft.
Stassi hit .197 (12-for-61) with two doubles, one triple, two home runs, six RBIs and a .651 OPS in 36 games.
"I didn't take advantage of the opportunity that was given to me," Stassi said. "I didn't do my job when I got in there. It is what it is. Hopefully I'll be able to get into a rhythm down there, get back to where my swing was in spring."
Asked if he was surprised, Stassi said, "I mean, I knew somebody had to go. Kind of expect the worst, hope for the best, you know? It is what it is. Kind of surprising I'm going to Reading, but whatever."
Pivetta takes Vince Velasquez's spot in the rotation. Velasquez is on the 10-day disabled list with an injured right elbow, which is not considered serious. Pivetta went 0-2 with a 5.12 ERA in four starts from April 30 through May 18, while Aaron Nola was on the DL with a strained lower back. Pivetta never pitched more than five innings in those starts, but he had pitch counts of 91, 101, 92 and 107, respectively.
He threw 10.7 percent of his pitches in three-ball counts, which he identified as a problem in his May 18 start in Texas. The league average is 8.5 percent, according to Statcast™.
"I've got to limit those pitches," Pivetta said following his May 18 start in Texas. "I did pretty well [in Triple-A]. I'll try to continue that. … I think I'll build on this so when I'm called up again I'll be able to stay up a lot longer."