“Fortunately we had Nick Pivetta,” Padres manager Mike Shidt said. “And Adam and Suarez and Diaz.”
That quote is in my game story too. But it really is an apt summation.
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You can read (here) in that story about how pretty much all the Padres got and pretty much all they needed for a 2-0 victory over the Tigers was another gem from Pivetta, Elias Díaz’s two-run homer and an inning apiece from Jason Adam and Robert Suarez.
Sometimes, fortunately for a team down three of its core offensive players, that is all it takes.
The Padres are mostly getting by one way or another.
They have had the best record in the major leagues for more than two weeks.
They were tied with the Dodgers and Mets yesterday. They are tied with only the Mets this morning.
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A lot has been said about how good the National League West has been so far this season. Today is the first time in 2025 that the four good teams from the division have been situated this high in the standings:
Crazy that it sometimes can seem the Padres aren’t playing that well.
But for whatever nitpicking we can do about throws to the wrong bases or runners not going when they should or bunts that weren’t executed, they do continue to play pretty well despite what they are missing.
They could not possibly have kept up what they were doing. They could not have continued winning as they were. They could not have continued getting all the good bounces they were.
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We can divide their season into thirds. They went 7-1 at the start, then 6-2 and are 4-4 over the past eight games.
They are one of four teams that have yet to lose more than two games in a row.
Wins like last night, eked out against an exceptionally sharp Jack Flaherty, are precious.
Consistency
Nick Pivetta has cautioned multiple times the past few weeks that it is too early to make judgments about this season.
He won’t get any argument here.
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But the fact is Pivetta has not only never been this good at the start of a season, he has never been this good over any five-start stretch.
You can read the game story to see how he went about holding the Tigers scoreless over seven innings while allowing a single baserunner in four different innings (two singles, two walks) and only once pitching with a runner in scoring position.
Through five starts, he leads the NL in ERA (1.20), WHIP (0.77) and batting average allowed (.155).
Here is what those five starts look like:
Pivetta had never before over the course of an entire season had three starts in which he went at least seven scoreless innings.
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He did it twice in each of the previous three seasons.
In 2022, he had five starts in which he pitched at least seven innings without allowing more than three hits.
That was also the season he had a run that resembled this one.
In six starts from May 7 through June 4 of that season, he had a 1.32 ERA while going at least six innings in every game and throwing one of his two career complete games. He then allowed four runs over five innings in a start before posting a 1.93 ERA and going at least six innings in each of his next four starts.
In that 11-start stretch, he had a 1.95 ERA over 74 innings and allowed a .184 batting average.
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Then … he lasted six innings in just two of his final 17 starts and finished ‘22 with a 4.56 ERA.
I wrote (here) after his first start with the Padres about mechanical changes he made. I wrote (here) after his third start about why his fastball, which isn’t exceedingly fast, plays so well.
“He looks better now,” said Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who played three seasons in Boston with Pivetta. “I didn’t see so much of this. … He’s mixing it so well.”
Last night might have been Pivetta’s most impressive work in the sense that he was not sizzling right away.
The only start he was not effective this season was the one in which he was behind a lot. The way last night began, it seemed that might happen again, as he threw just 10 strikes among his 20 pitches in the first inning.
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Pivetta contradicted an observation that he was “just missing” early.
The numbers said otherwise. So did his first walk.
So did his catcher.
“He was missing high … for a bit early in the game,” Díaz said. “But we were able to call some pitches a little bit down the zone more to the center part of the plate, and that gave him a little more confidence to be working with those pitches.”
Pivetta was behind 2-1 or 3-0 to four of the first five batters he faced last night. He would go on to face 21 more batters and throw two balls among his first three pitches to just two of them.
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It is remarkable how much he has dominated counts this season, save for his one clunker.
Here is a breakdown:
Here for the fielding
Mason McCoy had exclusively played shortstop in his 25 previous major league games.
He had not played second base at Triple-A this season before being recalled Monday when Luis Arraez was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list. And he played there just twice in 2024 and a few dozen times in all his minor-league seasons.
He said before the game, “It’s gonna be interesting.”
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It was spectacularly so in the eighth inning.
With one out and the Tigers’ Javier Báez on first base, Kerry Carpenter yanked a high popup down the right field line. McCoy ran a total of 113 feet to the side wall, leaped and caught the ball as he fell backward onto the tarp with his head going into the netting.
“There is so much foul ground over there,” McCoy said. “… There’s just a lot more foul ground than we’re used to. So as soon as he hit, I just kind of broke. I saw Gavin (Sheets) trying to give it a run too. I was just trying to beat it to a spot. I got under it enough to where I kind of called Gavin off (at the) last minute and just tried to get the glove up there.”
McCoy was not finished.
Two pitches later, he had a chance to make a play that was a lot harder than it even looked, as his line of sight was partially blocked both fielding and throwing the ball.
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Gleyber Torres hit a ball 95 mph off the bat, up the middle, just missing pitcher Jason Adam and bouncing to the shortstop side of second base. McCoy dove to grab the ball, hopped to his feet and threw out Torres even as the savvy Báez was clearly moving as much as he could to position himself between McCoy and first base.
“It was right in line with Jason off the bat, and so I didn’t see it originally, and then it kind of kicked, and I dove,” McCoy said. “And I came with the throw, and Javy was, like, shifted over. He laughed. He was like, ‘I was trying, trying to get in the way.’ And I was like, ‘I know. I saw you.’”
— Peoria Sunday Morning League Baseball (@PSMLBaseball) April 23, 2025
Good company
The Padres’ seven shutouts are tied for the most in MLB history through a season’s first 24 games.
It has been accomplished six other times since 1901, most recently by the 1992 Braves.
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Those Braves shutouts came in games started by Charlie Leibrandt, Mike Bielecki, Steve Avery and Hall of Famers Tom Glavine (three) and John Smoltz. Six of those were complete games.
The starters for the Padres’ shutouts this season have been Kyle Hart, Randy Vásquez, Michael King (two) and Pivetta (three). King threw a complete game.
Tidbits
Fernando Tatis Jr. got a single in the last of his four at-bats last night to extend his on-base streak to 23 games, a new career high. He has at least one hit in 11 consecutive games and is batting .344/.417/.644 with eight home runs this season.
Tyler Wade has reached base safely in all seven games he has started. He is batting .286 (6-for-21) with a .444 on-base percentage (six walks).
Bogaerts got his sixth infield single of the season, tied for fifth most in the major leagues.
Last night was just the sixth game the Padres have played in which the home team batted in the ninth inning. That is because they have won 12 of their 13 home games and are 5-6 on the road.
All right, that’s it for me. Early game (10:10 a.m. PT) today.
Talk to you tomorrow.
P.S. If you are reading this online, there is an easier (and free) way to get the Padres Daily. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox the morning after almost every game.
Four suspects were behind bars Friday for allegedly beating a man to death two months ago during a fight at Linda Vista Park.
Arrested Wednesday on suspicion of murder in connection with the violent death of 59-year-old Ruben Rimorin were Juan Garcia Alavez, 21, Juan Manuel Lopez, 26, Brian Reyes, 20, and Franklin Joseph Tuell, 21, according to the San Diego Police Department.
Rimorin was found gravely injured about 3:45 a.m. Oct. 18 on a sidewalk in the 6800 block of Osler Street, just west of the park, SDPD Lt. Chris Tivanian said. Paramedics tried in vain to revive the victim before pronouncing him dead at the scene.
It remains unclear what sparked the deadly fight.
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The suspects were being held at San Diego Central Jail without bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Friday afternoon.
National City’s Pepper Park can soon expand in size by nearly 50%, thanks to a ruling this week by the California Coastal Commission to approve the National City Balanced Plan.
The approval of the plan at the CCC’s Wednesday meeting, developed by the Port of San Diego, means that not only will the popular park have the ability to increase in size, big changes are coming for commercial, recreation and maritime uses on the National City bayfront.
“We are grateful to the California Coastal Commission for its support of the National City Balanced Plan,” said Danielle Moore, chair of the Board of Port Commissioners. “The progress we have made has been anchored in tireless collaboration with the community, business leaders and, of course, the city of National City. It’s about bringing more recreational opportunities to the bayfront while also streamlining and strengthening maritime operations, and we are eager to bring these projects to life.”
Other components of the balanced plan include:
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Realigning Marina Way to serve as the buffer area between commercial recreation and maritime uses
The closure of Tidelands Avenue between Bay Marina Drive and West 32nd Street, and West 28th Street between Tidelands Avenue and Quay Avenue, around six acres, to increase terminal efficiency by eliminating redundancies
The development of a recreational vehicle park, tent sites, cabins and the “ultimate development of up to two hotels with up to 365 rooms, as well as dry boat storage,” a port statement read
A connector rail project to connect the existing rail and loop track located on the National City Marine Terminal to additional rail car storage spots at the existing Burlington Northern Santa Fe National City Yard east of the National Distribution Center
The Board of Port Commissioners must accept the CCC’s certification, then the port and city can begin the process of completing the above projects.
“I am proud of the work we have done to help create a lasting legacy for National City, the Port of San Diego, and the entire region,” said Port Commissioner GilAnthony Ungab. “Nearly a decade in the making, this plan balances the interests of the community and many other stakeholders, addresses public access, maritime, and recreation uses, and expands waterfront access in my community.”
The National City Bayfront is 273 acres of waterfront land and 167 acres of water, and includes the National City Marine Terminal, Pepper Park, Pier 32 Marina, the Aquatic Center and pieces of public art.
Mayor Todd Gloria announced an initiative Wednesday intended to expand housing options in neighborhoods by integrating small-scale residences such as townhomes, rowhomes and cottages into an area’s existing character.
The Neighborhood Homes for All of Us initiative is also intended to support community land trusts — nonprofit organizations that acquire land to create permanent affordable housing.
“Since Day 1 of my administration, I have been focused on building more homes that San Diegans can actually afford — and getting them built faster,” Gloria said at a news conference Wednesday. “‘Neighborhood Homes for All of Us’ is the latest piece of that puzzle. This innovative program will break down the barriers that have gotten in the way of building the type of housing that I believe is ideal for young families and first-time homebuyers for whom the dream of homeownership has long felt out of reach.”
Around 80% of land zoned for housing in the city is restricted to single-family homes, which continue to increase in price, Gloria said. And a significant portion of new housing being built consists of apartment buildings with primarily studio and one-bedroom units, leaving working-class families fewer and fewer options for homes.
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Neighborhood Homes for All of Us is intended to increase the housing supply and allow community land trusts to keep housing affordable in disadvantaged communities for low- to middle-income families.
“San Diego is an incredible place to raise a family, and more families need the opportunity to do that in San Diego’s existing, highly desirable single-family neighborhoods where their kids can learn and play in a great community,” City Planning Director Heidi Vonblum said. “But today, that comes at a price that is out of reach for too many. Integrating more options for families requires careful and thoughtful planning, with input from existing and future community members across the city, to ensure these new home opportunities for San Diego’s families are built in ways that best enhance and benefit San Diego’s amazing neighborhoods.”
The initiative will roll out in two phases. In the first phase, beginning this week and continuing through next summer, San Diegans can help determine what the neighborhoods can look like. The public will be able to see renderings showing small-scale neighborhood homes within San Diego’s existing communities, along with new regulations that “provide a clear pathway for building these homes,” according to a statement from Gloria’s office.
Phase 1 will also include an open house and ways for the community to provide feedback and concerns.
Phase 2, scheduled for the second half of 2026, will be for city staff to develop regulations allowing for the building of more neighborhood homes in a way informed by the public feedback.
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The initiative is partly funded through a Regional Early Action Planning grant from the San Diego Association of Governments.
