Philadelphia Phillies: Nick Pivetta struggles in intrasquad game
By David Esser
After getting rained out the previous day, the Philadelphia Phillies were looking to get some serious work in on Saturday afternoon. Planning to get a total of 14 different pitchers some action, the team’s intrasquad matchup kicked off with Jake Arrieta and Nick Pivetta taking the mound.
Ever since being acquired via a trade with the Washington Nationals back in 2015, Pivetta has been one of the most interesting players to follow on the Phillies roster. Despite being labeled as one of the highest potential pitchers in all of baseball, Pivetta has yet to find any sort of major league success. Across 71 career starts he’s posted an ERA of 5.34, with a win-loss record of 19-30.
Heading into 2020, hopes were once again high when it came to PIvetta and his eventual “breakout”. With manager Joe Girardi and pitching coach Bryan Price both now in the building, there was a mild sense of optimism surrounding Pivetta and what he could do with an improved staff. Spots one through four in the Phillies rotation are locked up, so Pivetta would be forced to battle it out with guys like Vince Velasquez and Ranger Suarez for that coveted fifth spot.
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Unfortunately for Pivetta, his campaign for a 2020 starting job hit yet another roadblock this past weekend. Pivetta allowed five runs through just three innings, getting absolutely crushed in the second inning. Kyle Garlick, Adam Haseley, Bryce Harper, and JT Realmuto all recorded RBI base hits against the 27 year old righty.
Pivetta did manage to record four strikeouts, including three in the first inning. Brief flashes like this are one of many reasons why Pivetta can be so frustrating at times. He clearly has the talent, he just struggles to perform on a consistent basis.
The Phillies are still a few weeks away from Opening Day and Pivetta will surely get another chance or two to earn a starting gig. Regardless, highly ranked pitching prospect Spencer Howard will likely have that job by season’s end anyways.