BALTIMORE — When pondering the trivia question of which pitcher led the Red Sox in strikeouts and came in second in innings pitching this season, Nick Pivetta might not be the first name that comes to mind.
Yet after a season in which Pivetta was booted from the rotation and then pitched crucial innings out of the bullpen before regaining a starting spot at the end of the year, the reality remains that Pivetta became one of the most invaluable pitchers on the Red Sox staff this season.
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On Friday in Baltimore, he capped a rollercoaster of a year with another dominant effort. The right-hander pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out 10 in a 3-0 Red Sox win over the Orioles.
“I feel very confident, feel very happy,” Pivetta said. “Disappointed that I don’t get to continue throwing. But I’m ready to go into next year, have a good mindset and a good foundation to build on and just kind of continue moving forward.”
Pivetta finished with a team-leading 183 strikeouts, tied for 13th among all American League pitchers. His 142 ⅔ innings were second on the Red Sox only to Brayan Bello’s 157 innings.
After a rough two months to start the year, Pivetta was trending toward becoming an offseason non-tender candidate. But after he was forced into the bullpen in mid-May following a 6.30 ERA (5.73 FIP) through eight starts, he turned his season around.
Pivetta begrudgingly moved to the bullpen on May 18 in San Diego, and despite his frustration, he used the shift as motivation, posting a 1.98 ERA and 36 percent strikeout rate over his next 17 appearances out of the pen. He finished the year with career bests in a 4.04 ERA and 30.7 percent strikeout rate.
“His strike-throwing was different when he went to the bullpen, he was more aggressive, more efficient, more quick outs,” manager Alex Cora said. “And the stuff got better. He made some adjustments mechanically, but I think it was more the mindset that helped him out. When I told him he was going to the bullpen, he didn’t like it, but the next day he came in, he’s like, ‘I’m ready. I’m going to the bullpen today and whatever you need, I’ll do.’”
Part of Pivetta’s resurgence can be traced back to veteran reliever Chris Martin, who helped Pivetta throughout the year with his mentality and plan of attack as a reliever. Martin was placed on the injured list on Friday with a viral infection, ending his season, but Pivetta was grateful for Martin’s guidance during a trying year at times.
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“Whatever Chris told Nick, it changed his season. And maybe his career,” Cora said.
“I learned a lot from him,” Pivetta said of Martin, “ from the mental standpoint, the physical standpoint, he helped me out a lot this year. So it was really huge. I look forward to working on next year as well.”
From bulk outings to late-inning situations and back to a starter’s workload in September after fellow pitcher James Paxton’s season ended with knee inflammation, Pivetta has carved out a hybrid role, one the Red Sox might consider using him in next year, too, as they contemplate a six-man rotation, among other scenarios.
“You start looking at everything with him, not only the real numbers but the under-the-hood numbers and he’s become one of the best pitchers in the big leagues the last two and a half months,” Cora said.
The 4.04 ERA over 38 games and 16 starts clearly doesn’t tell the full story of Pivetta’s year. Some of those under-the-hood numbers Cora referenced are telling. Pivetta ranks in the 91st percentile with that 30.7 percent strikeout rate, and is 87th percentile in chase rate (32.7 percent) and 75th percentile in expected batting average (.223).
The 30-year-old Pivetta made $5.3 million in arbitration last year and is entering his final year before free agency, but will likely earn closer to $8-10 million next season. If he can replicate what he did for the better part of this year, he should continue to be a valuable piece of the Red Sox pitching puzzle.
“He really likes it here,” Cora said. “And it’s something that he’s been loud and clear about. He loves it here. He loves the atmosphere. Obviously not the results the last two years … but it’s intriguing what he can do and where we’re at in the game. This hybrid kind of thing, it’s interesting to be honest.”
Ever the competitor, Cora revealed that Pivetta tried to convince him to pitch an inning or two on Sunday in the Red Sox’s season finale. Cora left the door open, but if Pivetta’s year is indeed done, it ended on a high note.
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There are too many variables at this point to know what kind of role Pivetta will have next season, but the fact he’s been able to provide value as both a starter and bulk reliever as well as in short, late-inning stints, means he’ll all but certainly be a key piece for the club in 2024.
“One thing we know, he’s gonna work hard in the offseason to keep getting better,” Cora said. “He should be one of the guys next year. He’s gonna pitch important innings hopefully next year.”
(Photo: Greg Fiume / Getty Images)
