Pivetta (10-9) earned the win Friday, allowing two hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings against the Orioles. He struck out 10.
Pivetta ended his season on a high note, notching his fourth double-digit strikeout performance of the year. The 30-year-old righty was fantastic throughout September with a 2.43 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 43:5 K:BB in 33.1 innings. Pivetta ends the year with career lows in ERA (4.04) and WHIP (1.12) with 183:50 K:BB over 142.2 innings.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Impressive in unlucky no-decision
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Pivetta did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing three hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings against the White Sox. He struck out seven.
The White Sox mustered just three singles off Pivetta; however, Boston's offense didn't provide any run support and the 30-year-old had to settle for a no-decision. In five September appearances (four starts), he has posted a 3.08 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and an impressive 33:4 K:BB across 26.2 innings. Pivetta tentatively lines up for a road matchup with the AL East-leading Orioles in the team's final regular-season series next week.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Logs quality start
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Pivetta did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing two runs on four hits over 6.1 innings against Toronto. He struck out six.
It's the first time Pivetta pitched six or more innings since July 31. Since rejoining the Red Sox rotation earlier this month, he's gone 0-2 with a 4.41 ERA and 21 strikeouts in three starts covering 16.1 innings. The 30-year-old Pivetta will likely finish out the season as a starter with James Paxton (knee) sidelined. He's currently slated for a home matchup with the White Sox in his next outing.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Stuck with loss despite 10 Ks
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Pivetta (9-9) took the loss Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader against the Yankees, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out 10.
The right-hander was dominant through five frames in his return to the rotation, retiring the first eight batters he faced and not allowing a runner past first base, but he faded late and got the hook after five of the first six New York batters reached base in the sixth. It marks the third time this season Pivetta has fanned double-digit batters but the first time since July 31, as he'd spent the last month working out of the bullpen. He earned his punchouts Wednesday with 31 called or swinging strikes among his 90 pitches. With James Paxton (knee) done for the year, Pivetta figures to remain a starter the rest of the way.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Starting Tuesday's matinee
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Pivetta will start the afternoon game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees.
Pivetta had been scheduled to start Tuesday night, but rain forced a cancellation of Monday's contest, which will be made up Tuesday as part of a twin bill. Monday's scheduled starter, Kutter Crawford, will work the nightcap. Pivetta has been moved permanently into the starting rotation to replace James Paxton, who is done for the season with a knee injury.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Moving into rotation
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Pivetta will start for the Red Sox on Tuesday against the Yankees, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Pivetta will transition back into a rotation role over the final three weeks of the regular season after James Paxton was officially shut down Sunday due to right knee inflammation. The 30-year-old holds a 4.54 ERA and 150:47 K:BB through 117 innings (12 starts, 22 relief appearances) this season with Boston.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Gets little help in loss
Rotowire
Pivetta (9-8) took the loss Wednesday, giving up three runs on seven hits and two walks over 4.2 innings as the Red Sox fell 3-1 to the Rays. He struck out five.
Making his first start since Aug. 15, Pivetta wasn't particularly efficient and got the hook after 85 pitches (58 strikes), but he also got little support from his offense. The right-hander's impressive run as a bulk reliever after the All-Star break is now well in the rearview mirror, and since the beginning of August, Pivetta has a 5.97 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 40:13 K:BB through 28.2 innings. He should return to long relief after this spot start.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Starting Wednesday
Rotowire
Pivetta will start Wednesday's game against the Rays, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.
After picking up a three-inning save in his most recent relief appearance Saturday, Pivetta is now set to make his 12th start of the season. Over his 56.2 innings as a starter this season, Pivetta has turned in a 5.88 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 17.1 K-BB%, with all of those ratios representing stark downturns from what he's provided as a reliever. Since Pivetta hasn't tossed more than 40 pitches in an outing since Aug. 20, the Red Sox could look to deploy the right-hander as more of a tandem starter in front of Brandon Walter or another member of the bullpen.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Nabs three-inning save
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Pivetta gave up a run on two hits over three innings Saturday to record his first save of the season in a 9-5 win over the Royals. He struck out five without walking a batter.
A solo shot by MJ Melendez in the ninth inning was the only blemish on Pivetta's performance. The right-hander hasn't had the same success lately in long relief that he did right after the All-Star break, and over 24 innings since the beginning of August he carries a 6.00 ERA and 1.46 WHIP despite a 35:11 K:BB. Unless the Red Sox get desperate in their attempt to claw back into the playoff picture, Pivetta seems unlikely to return to the rotation in 2023.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Appears in relief, scoops up win
Rotowire
Pivetta improved to 9-6 while retiring two of the batters he faced via strikeout and walking the other in Boston's 7-5 win over Houston in 10 innings.
Pivetta had covered no more than four innings in any of his last six outings while serving as either a starter or a bulk reliever, but he ended up pitching in a high-leverage spot Wednesday after closer Kenley Jansen exited a 4-4 game in the bottom of the ninth with a hamstring injury. Pivetta came on to replace Jansen and recorded the final two outs of the frame to send the game to extras, with the right-hander picking up the win after Boston scored three runs in the top of the 10th. With the Red Sox returning Tanner Houck from the 15-day injured list Tuesday and inserting him into the rotation, Pivetta's run as a starting pitcher looks like it could be over for the time being.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Fans eight in five innings
Rotowire
Pivetta allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out eight over five innings in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Yankees.
Pivetta was the bulk pitcher Sunday, entering after Josh Winckowski threw a scoreless inning to open for Boston. Pivetta, a one-time starter, has shined since moving to the bullpen, while pitching in a variety of roles that included being used as a spot starter. He's often worked more innings than a traditional long reliever, as the Red Sox navigated a stretch with fewer than five healthy starters. With Tanner Houck (face) due back Tuesday, Pivetta can return to a more traditional relief role, as Boston sets its sight on a wild card playoff spot.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Working in bulk relief Sunday
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Pivetta will work as a bulk reliever in Sunday's game against the Yankees behind opening pitcher Josh Winckowski, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Pivetta operated as a traditional starter in both of his last two appearances, but he'll return to a familiar bulk-relief role Sunday while the Red Sox deploy him behind Winckowski, who is unlikely to work more than 1-to-3 innings before being pulled from the contest. The arrangement should improve Pivetta's odds of factoring into any decision, though it may take some strikeout upside off the table while he presumably covers fewer innings than he might as a traditional starter. The Red Sox are expected to get Tanner Houck (face) back from the 15-day injured list either Monday or Tuesday and plan on having him fill a spot in the rotation, so Pivetta could end up sticking in a bullpen role permanently moving forward.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Goes 4.1 innings in no-decsion
Rotowire
Pivetta did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks over 4.1 innings against the Nationals. He struck out seven.
While Pivetta racked up seven strikeouts, he was only able to make it through 4.1 innings on 86 pitches (60 strikes). The right-hander has 17 punchouts over his last three outings (13.1 innings), though he's struggled to a 6.08 ERA in that span. Overall, Pivetta's 8-6 with a 4.34 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 127:41 K:BB across 101.2 innings this season. With Tanner Houck (face) scheduled to return next week, the Red Sox may elect to move Pivetta back to the bullpen.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Fans eight in eighth win
Rotowire
Pivetta (8-6) picked up the win in Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the Royals, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out eight.
MJ Melendez touched him up for a pair of solo shots, but otherwise Pivetta kept Kansas City in check as he made his 10th start of the season rather than working in a bulk role behind an opener. The right-hander has served up five homers over his last three appearances, but he still sports a sparkling 2.54 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 39:7 K:BB through 28.1 frames since the All-Star break. If he stays on schedule, his next outing lines up for a road trip early next week against the Nationals.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
Pivetta wasn't so impressive against the Blue Jays last time out, going back to following an opener despite his 10-strikeout gem one turn earlier. But he bounced back nicely in a true start Wednesday against the Royals, striking out eight while allowing two runs in five innings. It suggests real durability for his recent run of success. and he now boasts a 2.88 ERA, 0.91 WHIP 13.3 K/9 over his past nine appearances. Of course, most of those appearances have come as a bulk reliever following an opener, but he's also excelled when the Red Sox have deployed him in a more conventional way, which seems to be happening more and more. His history should rightfully give you pause, but it's not often you'll find this kind of strikeout upside on the waiver wire this time of year.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Works as bulk reliever Saturday
Rotowire
Pivetta gave up three runs on six hits and two walks over four innings of relief in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays. He struck out two and did not factor into the decision.
John Schreiber got the nod as the opener for Boston on Saturday, and while manager Alex Cora had hinted before the game that Chris Murphy would be used as the primary pitcher after Schreiber, it was Pivetta who came out of the bullpen to begin the second inning. The right-hander was the only person who seemed to be faked out by the move, however, as he put together his worst appearance since originally shifting to a long-relief role back in May. Pivetta still sports an impressive 2.51 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 45:8 K:BB through 32.1 innings since the beginning of July, but it looks like he will continue bouncing between a traditional starting role and bulk relief.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
With his 10 strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings Monday, Pivetta now has a 2.27 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 14.2 K/9 in his past seven appearances. I've been around a while, I'm familiar with the Nick Pivetta experience, and I'm fairly certain that this latest rendition ends much the same way, with broken hearts and bloated ERAs. But it's August. The waiver wire is tapped out at starting pitcher. What's available is all pretty volatile, so why single out Pivetta, who at least for the moment is looking outright dominant? True, much of it has come as a bulk reliever -- Monday's outing was his first true start during this stretch -- but his success hasn't been contingent on shorter outings. Not only did he go 7 1/3 innings this time but he also had a six-inning outing in which he allowed no hits and struck out 13.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Strikes out 10 in loss
Rotowire
Pivetta dropped to 7-6 on the season after allowing three runs on five hits and striking out 10 without walking a batter over 7.1 innings in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Mariners.
Pivetta had spent much of the last month-plus in a bulk-relief role, but he looked pretty good as a starter Monday. Two of the five hits he allowed were home runs to Cal Raleigh, and Pivetta was also on the hook for the first run of the Mariners' eighth-inning rally. He allowed just seven runs (six earned) over 28.1 innings across six appearances in July. For the season, Pivetta has a 4.08 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 110:34 K:BB through 88.1 innings over 26 appearances (nine starts). It's unclear if he's free from working behind an opener, but his next outing should be at home versus the Blue Jays this weekend.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Set to start Monday
Rotowire
Pivetta will start Monday's game against the Mariners, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.
Pivetta was an option to pitch behind opener Brennan Bernardino during Sunday's game against the Giants, but he didn't enter the game and will instead serve as the starter for Monday's series opener in Seattle. Over his last three outings, the right-hander has struck out 19 in 12 scoreless innings.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Could follow opener Sunday
Rotowire
Pivetta could pitch behind opener Brennan Bernardino in Sunday's game against the Giants, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Pivetta delivered five scoreless frames of bulk relief Tuesday against Atlanta, lining him up to potentially take the mound for Sunday's series finale in San Francisco. Boston's full pitching plans haven't been confirmed, but the right-hander has been excellent out of the bullpen this season with a 1.98 ERA over 41 innings and is a decent bet to take the mound after Bernardino.
