Thursday, May 21, 2026 • 4:05 PM
Nationals Park • Washington, DC
LHP David Peterson (2-4, 5.40) vs. RHP Cade Cavalli (2-2, 4.05)
SNY

The Mets will try to escape Washington with a four-game split today. After winning the first game of the series by scoring 10 runs in the 12th inning, the Mets’ bats have struggled to keep up with the Nationals over the last two days. Tuesday, Bo Bichette hit two home runs, but the Mets still fell short. On Wednesday, Juan Soto hit two home runs, and the Mets couldn’t get it done. Hopefully, today is the day to get back in the win column.

Apr 13, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Mets pitcher David Peterson (23) throws pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

  1. Carson Benge – RF
  2. Bo Bichette – SS
  3. Juan Soto – LF
  4. Mark Vientos – 1B
  5. Brett Baty – 3B
  6. Marcus Semien – 2B
  7. A.J. Ewing – CF
  8. MJ Melendez – DH
  9. Luis Torrens – C

Starting Pitcher: David Peterson

David Peterson returns to the rotation today for the Mets. Overall, Peterson has pitched in 10 games totaling 43 1/3 innings with a 5.40 ERA, 2.97 FIP, 1.569 WHIP and a 73 ERA+. The Mets have used an opener for his last three games. In those games, he allowed seven runs, four earned, over 13 innings while striking out 17 batters (2.77 ERA, 1.42 FIP). His last start was against the Nationals, and Washington tagged him for seven runs and five hits with three walks over 3 2/3 innings. The Nationals have the following career stats against Peterson:

Opposing Lineup

  1. James Wood – LF
  2. Curtis Mead – 3B
  3. Andres Chaparro – 1B
  4. CJ Abrams – SS
  5. Dylan Crews – RF
  6. Daylen Lile – DH
  7. Jacob Young – CF
  8. Nasim Nuñez – 2B
  9. Keibert Ruiz – C

Cade Cavalli has made 10 starts totaling 46 2/3 innings with a 4.05 ERA, 3.39 FIP, 1.543 WHIP and a 100 ERA+. The last two games have looked like his whole season, allowing five runs over 12 innings from 12 hits and a walk. He faced the Mets at the end of April, where he allowed two runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six. The Mets have the following career stats against Cavalli:

  • Brett Baty 1-4, BB, K
  • Carson Benge 0-3, 2 K
  • Bo Bichette 1-3
  • MJ Melendez 1-2, BB, K
  • Marcus Semien 2-3, K
  • Juan Soto 4-5, 2B, HR
  • Tyrone Taylor 1-3, K

Game Notes

  • Kodai Senga will begin a rehab assignment for Single-A St. Lucie on Friday. He has been sidelined for the last three weeks with lumbar spine inflammation.
  • Jonah Tong is under consideration to start for the Mets in Miami this weekend. He was scratched from his start for Syracuse on Wednesday.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Juan Soto. Soto has been tearing it up for the last three series. Over his last nine games, he has gone 14-for-36 with five home runs and 11 runs scored. He’s slashing .389/.463/.806, raising his season OPS from .826 to .951. He now has a 170 OPS+, which is higher than 2025 (160) and 2023 (155).
  2. Bullpen is good to go. Daniel Duarte closed out Tuesday’s game, giving a depleted bullpen the night off. He was optioned back to Syracuse for Thornton to join the rotation for yesterday’s game. Austin Warren and Craig Kimbrel finished off yesterday’s game, totaling 54 pitches. Tobias Myers, Brooks Raley, Huascar Brazobán and Luke Weaver haven’t pitched since Monday. Sean Manaea and Devin Williams haven’t pitched since Sunday. If the Mets get a lead, they can pass it off to a well-rested bullpen!
  3. Mark Vientos. Vientos was the only hitter with an extra-base hit outside of Juan Soto last night. Vientos hit his eighth double of the season. He is crushing expected stats this season with a .357 xwOBA (78th percentile), .279 xBA (81st percentile) and .525 xSLG (91st percentile). Vientos is hitting the ball hard 47.8% of the time (83rd percentile). The problem is, he has a 33.6% chase rate (28th percentile), and 29.7% whiff rate (24th percentile).

Let’s go Mets!