Mets Pitcher David Peterson Struggling Early in Season

Concerns arise over Mets' lone lefty starter after back-to-back rough outings

Apr. 8, 2026 at 11:22pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's delivery broken down into fragmented, overlapping geometric shapes, conveying the intricate mechanical adjustments the Mets must make to help their struggling starter regain his form.A deconstructed view of a struggling pitcher's mechanics highlights the complexities the Mets face in fixing David Peterson's early-season woes.NYC Today

New York Mets pitcher David Peterson has gotten off to a rough start in the 2026 season, raising early concerns about the left-hander's role in the team's starting rotation. Peterson allowed five runs on six hits in the first two innings of his latest start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, continuing a troubling trend after a similarly poor outing against the Giants in his previous start.

Why it matters

Peterson was one of the Mets' most reliable starters for large stretches of the 2025 season, making his early struggles in 2026 a concerning development for a team with high expectations. The Mets don't have many obvious alternatives to replace Peterson in the rotation at the moment, putting pressure on the young lefty to make the necessary adjustments to regain his form.

The details

In his latest start, Peterson struggled with his sinker and failed to get to his wipeout slider, leading to hard contact from the Diamondbacks hitters. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged that Peterson is having trouble executing pitches, particularly against right-handed batters. Despite the early concerns, Mendoza expressed confidence in Peterson, describing him as 'our guy' who just needs to make a few adjustments.

  • On April 8, 2026, Peterson allowed five runs on six hits in the first two innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
  • In his previous start on April 3, 2026, Peterson had a similarly rough outing against the San Francisco Giants.

The players

David Peterson

A left-handed pitcher for the New York Mets who was one of the team's most reliable starters in 2025 but has struggled early in the 2026 season.

Carlos Mendoza

The manager of the New York Mets, who expressed confidence in Peterson and said the team will stay the course with the young lefty for now.

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What they’re saying

“He's having a hard time executing pitches glove side, meaning inside to righties”

— Carlos Mendoza, Mets Manager

The takeaway

While it's still early in the season, Peterson's struggles have raised concerns about the Mets' starting rotation depth. The team is expressing patience with Peterson, but if he doesn't make the necessary adjustments soon, the Mets may need to consider alternative options to solidify their rotation.