David Peterson has had a difficult start to the season. Opposing teams have done quite a bit of damage against a majority of his pitches. So, the Mets decided to try something different. Start the game with an opener before going to Peterson. While Sunday’s game against the Cubs didn’t result in a win, largely due to their offense, that pitching plan certainly worked.
Tobias Myers started the game with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two. Then, the Mets went to Peterson to start the third inning. He got into immediate trouble when Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a leadoff triple to start the frame. But two batters later, Peterson got Nico Hoerner to line out into a double play to keep the Cubs off the board.
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After that, he was able to settle in. The Cubs got two more hits against Peterson but failed to do anything with them. His final line was 3 2/3 innings, three hits, one walk, and, most importantly, no runs. “I don’t think it matters what my reaction is. It matters what the best decision for the team is. We’re trying to do everything we can to win games,” Peterson said before Sunday’s game.
In Peterson’s previous starts, most of his damage came in the first three innings. He hasn’t allowed a run to score in the fourth or sixth innings of work in 2026, allowing only one run in the fifth inning.
The Mets have used an opener in the past, not too often, but it has happened before. Myers and Huascar Brazobán are both capable of working in that role. With Peterson and Kodai Senga struggling at the moment, could the Mets use them in long relief for the time being? At this point, all options should be on the table. Sean Manaea has had some good outings in that role this season. Maybe the same can occur for them.
Before Sunday, Peterson’s last relief appearance in the regular season was all the way back in 2022. He did have four relief appearances in the 2024 postseason, a run in which he pitched to a 2.92 ERA over 12 1/3 innings. With how he performed in Chicago, pitching after an opener may be the best thing for Peterson in the short term while the Mets look to get back on track.
