SAN DIEGO -- Nick Pivetta has been the Padres’ most reliable starter all season.
Naturally, he’s getting the ball first in the postseason.
Pivetta will start the National League Wild Card Series opener on Tuesday at Wrigley Field, manager Mike Shildt announced after the Padres wrapped up their regular season with a 12-4 victory over the Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon at Petco Park.
“More than deserved,” said Shildt, who did not divulge any plans for Games 2 or 3. “I’ve said this a lot, but Nick -- what a sign. What a great, late sign into Spring Training. He’s come in and fit right in. And he’s done a tremendous job. He’s a guy that clearly competes. I think everybody appreciates and loves his competitiveness, his stuff. He goes out every day and attacks hitters.”
Indeed, Pivetta joined the Padres on the day of the team’s first full-squad workout in Peoria, Ariz. He joined a rotation with serious question marks -- and those question marks only got bigger throughout the summer, with injuries, trades and up-and-down performance from elsewhere in the rotation.
Through it all, Pivetta was the Padres’ steadying presence. In 31 starts this year, he posted a 2.87 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He made two starts against the Cubs, posting a 4.00 ERA.
“He commands his fastball and throws secondary pitches for quality strikes," Shildt said. "He’s literally kept us in every game and given us more than a chance to win in almost all of them. We’re excited to have him out there for Game 1.”