Pitching to contact is real, Pivetta was throwing strikes, throwing his breaking balls for strikes and not afraid of hitters. Getting ahead of the count is so valuable for pitchers (see OPS for 0-1 v 1-0 counts).
I'd still like to see him develop a 2 seamer with movement like Eflin did, and even better, a changeup against LH hitters that fades away, but this is a good start. Pivetta throws a straight 4-seamer, and it's much more effective when he throws breaking balls for strikes, because it is a hittable pitch when hitters can sit on it.
