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You live and die by your bullpen in baseball, especially when it comes to the playoffs, and the Mets may well have just found a secret weapon in David Peterson. The 27-year-old answered the bell on Saturday by entering the win over the Pirates in relief and delivering a superb outing.

It has been somewhat of a strange year for Peterson who has been used in a number of roles, including stepping up into the rotation when injuries have hit. However, after allowing five earned runs in his last start against the Cubs on September 14, largely thanks to his lack of control, once again, the 27-year-old has been transitioned into a bullpen role with Max Scherzer expected to get the start against the Brewers on Monday.

But, if Saturday is anything to go by, then the Mets may well just have something with Peterson coming out of the bullpen. Following six stellar innings from Chris Bassitt, Peterson entered the game in the seventh armed with a four-run lead. It was a lead that never came into danger as the lefty understood the assignment and got the job done.

Peterson got Cal Mitchell to fly out before striking out Michael Chavis and then Diego Castillo popped out to first to end an easy, nine-pitch inning. He was in his groove from the very get-go. It got even better in the eighth as the lefty struck out both Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds, needing just a mere 12 pitches to complete a perfect eighth.

Indeed, the only hiccup against Peterson came in the top of the ninth as he gave up a solo home run to Rodolfo Castro. Castro crushed a fastball to right-center field to get the Pirates on the board. However, it was only damage done to Peterson, and the lefty finished what was a promising outing by striking out Ben Gamel before leaving the game.

“Obviously, with guys we have in the starting rotation, we couldn’t ask for much more,” Peterson said after the game. “You look up and down, and there’s five really good pitchers. I think the most exciting thing is being able to contribute in a different way and help this team win.”

If the starting rotation can now remain whole and healthy down the stretch and into October, then the Mets may well have struck some kind of gold by using Peterson out of the bullpen. That if he can keep his control in check like he did last night. After all, it is no secret that this club is in dire need of a high-end lefty reliever after failing to acquire one at the trade deadline.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Great pitching was the story of the day for the Mets on Saturday. While Peterson and the bullpen took the team across the finishing line, the tone was set by Bassitt, who was outstanding, as he delivered a true bounce-back performance after giving up five earned runs against the Cubs last time out.

Bassitt was terrific, mowing through the Pirates’ lineup, and needing just 39 pitches to get through the first three innings. He did put a couple of runners on base in the sixth inning, but he delivered a filthy curveball to strike out Ke’Bryan Hayes to escape the jam and seal what was another impressive start in a long line of them this season.

Bassitt finished his night with eight strikeouts, two walks, and allowed only three hits in six innings of work. The eight punch-outs secured a new career-high with 163 this season. The veteran has now completed at least six innings in 22 of his 28 starts this year, as he lowered his ERA to 3.32 last night.

Bassitt has been a reliable force all year and what made his gem of a start on Saturday even more impressive was the fact that he had been wiped out by a nasty stomach virus just days before. Bassitt’s ability to come through in the clutch, grind it out, and deliver a superb outing drew unique praise from Showalter after the game.

“We call them ride-back guys,” Showalter said. “You’ve seen those Westerns where they’re running away from somebody, and one guy gets shot off the horse? Everybody keeps going, and one guy always rides and helps the guy out. Chris Bassitt is one of those ride-back guys.”

Bassitt has indeed been a horse and the Mets’ “Mr. Reliable” all season long and Saturday was just another example of what he can bring to the table. Of course, the veteran will be crucial for the Mets in the postseason as the team’s projected third starter.