NL WILD CARD SERIES: CUBS VS PADRES

September 29, 2026

Nick Pivetta

Petco Park

San Diego Padres

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Nick, when you were going through what you were going through, especially mid-summerish or whatnot, could you imagine that you were sitting here now?

NICK PIVETTA: Yeah, of course. It was my main focus to be here with these guys. That's what I kind of held onto, and that's what I just focused on to get through each day.

Q. Joe being on the Wild Card roster, you worked out with him this whole time and were part of him and his rehab. What do you think this means to him, and what did you see from him behind the scenes to get back?

NICK PIVETTA: I don't want to speak on his behalf, but for me, it's very encouraging, very exciting. Very excited to watch him pitch, but happy for him for all the adversities that he's went through and how good of a teammate he's been, how good of a leader he's been throughout the whole, entire process, and been an impact to get us to where we are today too.

Q. Nick, what are you expecting from the environment here tomorrow?

NICK PIVETTA: We're very lucky to have such a great fan base here. From what I've heard from the guys that have played here before, I'm expecting great things and very excited for it. Just trying to keep all my focus on the game, but enjoy those moments too with those fans and try to bring the championship home for them.

Q. If you could just speak to your relationship with Michael King. Have you guys talked about this at all and kind of getting to go 1 and 2 in this series?

NICK PIVETTA: We've kind of kept it kind of neutral focused. We both have a job to do. But for me it's very exciting to get to watch him start this game today. I'm very much looking forward to watching him compete, watching him do his thing. It's always exciting.

Even when he was a free agent last year, having him back here, it's special to me. I'm really looking forward to it.

Q. Along those lines, when you're watching Michael King pitch, what does he do best?

NICK PIVETTA: Michael is a professional all around from day 1 all the way to day 5, and that brings the consistency that he has and what he's been able to do all year. But I really admire the way he's able to navigate a lineup, use the scouting report to his strengths.

You can just see with the way he's pitched, his stuff has continually progressed the whole, entire year. So I look forward to that as well.

Q. When you think about this team's journey, obviously come at it from a unique vantage point from having been injured and then joining the train in September, what is the biggest reason this Padres team has been playing their best baseball over the last two months?

NICK PIVETTA: I could probably talk about that for a long time, but to sum it up, we're playing good, clean baseball, selfless baseball. We're all professionals, and we have a lot of great players on this team, a lot of players who have been there before, done that before.

We're just gelling really well. I think the way the roster is we complement each other in a great way. We're able to keep it nice and relaxed day to day but then get on the field and have that same kind of rhythm and vibe together as we have had the whole, entire year.

Q. Since returning your results, it seems like your command has been really good. Can you speak to why you think the results since coming back have been as good as they've been?

NICK PIVETTA: No, I can't really, to be honest with you. I'm just trying to go day by day. I think -- I wouldn't say I've gotten lucky, but I think the fact that I've been able to pick it up where I left off last year versus where I started the beginning of the year, just feeling healthy. I think we're just rolling with something that's really special, and I'm kind of just going to stay in that mode.

I can't tell you why it's kind of grooving right now. All I can say is I'm healthy, I'm feeling good, and I'm excited for the next step.

Q. This is a similar Cubs lineup that you faced in the Wild Card at Wrigley last year. Your general impressions of what they do offensively.

NICK PIVETTA: It's a whole lineup, make good contact, they don't swing outside of the zone. They have guys in there that gel really well together led by Bregman. It's just trying to keep them off balance, but always sticking to my strengths and doing what I do best and just see where that night goes. Just enjoy the moment and have fun at the same time too because it's very special.

Q. You've talked about how important it was for you to come back and help this team win, and you can see it in your body language when you're on the mound and you're coming off of a good inning. What is it about this game and the ability to play it at this level that drives you the way that it does?

NICK PIVETTA: I think for me it's -- you know, there's not a lot of people that get to do what I do. I never take that for granted. I love to play the game of baseball. I love competing against the guys across from me. They put a lot of hard work into their craft. I put a lot of hard work into my craft. And then we get to play on the biggest stage in front of great fans no matter what team.

For me it's just that passion to play baseball, enjoy it, and try to beat everybody else because that's what I want to do. I want to be better than everybody else. I want to be the best, just like everyone else does, and I want to prove that to everyone else and have fun doing it at the same time and win baseball games for my teammates.

Q. Obviously you're a great pitcher, but how confident are you in the bullpen considering the situation for a Wild Card series like this one?

NICK PIVETTA: Those guys down there are top class. They do an extraordinary job, and I'm very grateful to have them behind me. Given any situation to come into the game.

My job is to go as deep in the baseball game, throw up as many zeros as I possibly can to get those guys in the game to do what they've done all year.

Q. What can you tell us about the work that Ruben Niebla has made with this pitching staff?

NICK PIVETTA: You can see it from the success that we've had. Ruben's done a great job. He's a great leader. He knows the situations, understands the game and the situations, and he understands how to make adjustments with certain guys and communicate that message to the guys.

Having also Fritz there too to help him along the way too has been great, and Fritz has done a great job with the bullpen as well. Having two great guys to always lean on really helps each individual.