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2026 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile

Nick Pivetta’s 2025 season was a historic breakthrough that finally rewarded the "Pivetta truthers" who had spent years waiting for his elite peripherals to match his results. After signing a four-year, $55 million contract with the Padres in February 2025, the move from Fenway Park to the pitcher-friendly confines of Petco Park proved transformative. Pivetta delivered a career-best 2.87 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and a 13-5 record across 181.2 innings. He struck out 190 batters (26.4% K-rate) while showcasing significantly improved command, posting a career-low 6.9% walk rate. Because of injuries to Michael King and Dylan Cease’s mid-season struggles, Pivetta effectively served as the Padres' de facto ace for much of the year, even getting the start in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.

Entering 2026, the 33-year-old is the anchor of the Padres' rotation, slated for either the No. 1 or No. 2 spot alongside a healthy Michael King. This is the second year of his backloaded deal, seeing his base salary jump from $1 million last year to $19 million this season. Pivetta arrived in Peoria this spring looking to prove that his 2025 breakout was skill-driven rather than a fluke of luck. He has reportedly spent the winter refining a new splitter to complement his high-whiff sweeper and curveball. Unlike many of his teammates, Pivetta is fully present in camp and focused on the 2026 MLB season, having not been listed among the primary headlines for the World Baseball Classic.

For fantasy managers, Pivetta has moved from a "late-round flyer" to a premium SP3 target with an ADP around 94.