Players of the Week: Alonso & Peterson Dominate In .500 Week

It was a “down” week for the Mets – and that’s in relative terms because, at this point in the season for the Metropolitans, a down week means anything other than a winning week.

In a sign of how good the Mets have been all year, their worst week is often other teams’ best efforts. After winning the wraparound series finale while hosting the Marlins, the Mets were swept in a two-game set in Houston before then taking two of three in Miami. By week’s end, the Mets went an even 3-3, and enter the new week five games above the Braves in the NL East.

Despite an ugly loss in Houston and a heartbreaking loss in Miami all within the past handful of days, both Pete Alonso and David Peterson had very strong weeks for the Mets. It should be no surprise to see Alonso here, who is emerging as a leading candidate to win NL MVP honors. Peterson, meanwhile, continues to be a bright light for a rotation that has yet to fully recover from a recent slew of injuries.

Hitter of the Week

In a week in which he recorded two multi-hit games, Pete Alonso slashed a strong .300/.333/.800 with three home runs and six runs batted in. After beginning the week going hitless in Monday’s series finale against the Marlins, Alonso went 3-for-3 with a home run in a blowout loss to the Astros. While his solo shot came with the Mets already trailing 7-0, it’s nonetheless always a pleasure to see Alonso’s power on display. Alonso cooled off a bit with an 0-for in the series finale in Houston and the opener in Miami, but he saved his best performance of the week for Saturday’s matinee game. In a thrilling 5-3 Mets win, Alonso, knocked out two home runs, including the go-ahead blast in the eighth inning. The slugger capped off his week with an RBI double in an extra-innings defeat.

With 22 home runs before the calendar has flipped to July, Alonso leads the National League in that category. He may even have a chance to break his personal best of 53 home runs, a mark he set in 2019 when he broke the MLB record for most home runs in a single season by a rookie.

Pitcher of the Week

Despite David Peterson being a top-10 prospect in the Mets farm system as recently as a few years ago, he remained an afterthought heading into his third big league season this year. On paper, the Mets rotation was looking like the majors best; there was simply no room for a young lefty like Peterson, still establishing himself as a major league player.

After posting a 73 ERA+ in his sophomore campaign, his status on the 26-man roster was even up for debate. But the plethora of injuries that have befallen onto the Mets 2022 pitching staff has opened the door for Peterson. He’s absolutely made the most of his opportunity.

Last week, Peterson tossed two magnificent quality starts, good for a 1.46 ERA across 12 1/3 innings pitched. On Monday against Miami, he threw 5 1/3 shutout frames, allowing six hits and two walks but striking out. a season-high seven batters as well.

By the end of the week, Peterson was facing the Marlins again, this time in South Florida. He pitched a season-high seven innings, struck out a new season-best eight batters, and allowed four hits and two runs, walking no batters. Outside of a solo homer allowed to Miguel Rojas, Peterson was very effective and kept the Mets in a game that the offense ultimately failed to capitalize on.

Even once the aces return to the rotation, Peterson is forming a case to remain on the roster in some capacity, perhaps as a long-man in the bullpen – which will be especially critical come playoff time.