San Diego pulled off a 7-2 victory over Colorado on Sunday, but the win came at a cost when right‑hander Nick Pivetta left after four innings with elbow stiffness. He retired the first nine batters, then saw his fastball dip to 92.2 mph, 1.9 mph below his season average, before a 46th‑pitch call forced a bullpen visit.

Coach Ruben Niebla summoned the bullpen as soon as the pitch landed, and manager Craig Stammen, alongside athletic trainer Mark Rogow, escorted Pivetta to the dugout. Reliever Kyle Hart entered after a 4½‑minute delay, while Edouard Julien recorded a groundout on his first pitch. He indicated he was “not feeling 100%” throughout the outing. Pivetta, 33, holds a 1‑2 record and a 5.54 ERA, striking out four before exiting.

The pitcher’s $55 million deal, signed in February 2025, contains an opt‑out after 2026 and 2027 and a San Diego clause that can void the contract if he spends more than 130 consecutive days on the injured list with a qualifying elbow issue. Pivetta’s prior stint on the IL for a flexor strain last year adds weight to the team’s cautious approach.