Mets Unveil Opening Day Rotation

Peralta, Peterson, and McLean to lead Mets' pitching staff to start 2026 season

Mar. 21, 2026 at 6:50pm

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The New York Mets have announced their starting rotation to begin the 2026 MLB regular season. Freddy Peralta will take the mound on Opening Day against the Pittsburgh Pirates, followed by David Peterson and Nolan McLean in the first three games. Clay Holmes and Kodai Senga will round out the rotation for the opening road series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Mets are also expected to utilize a six-man rotation, with Sean Manaea piggy-backing off one of the five starters to start the year.

Why it matters

The Mets' starting pitching was a weakness last season, but the offseason acquisition of Peralta and the emergence of McLean have solidified the rotation as a potential strength heading into 2026. How the pitching staff performs early on could set the tone for the Mets' season and their push to return to the playoffs.

The details

Peralta, Peterson, and McLean will start the first three games of the season for the Mets, with Holmes and Senga rounding out the rotation for the opening road series against the Cardinals. The Mets are also expected to utilize a six-man rotation, with Sean Manaea piggy-backing off one of the five starters to begin the year. Manaea is coming off an injury-plagued 2025 campaign and has seen his velocity down this spring, so the Mets are taking a cautious approach with the left-hander.

  • The Mets will open the 2026 regular season on March 26 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
  • The Mets will then travel to St. Louis to face the Cardinals, with Clay Holmes and Kodai Senga starting the first two games of that series.
  • The Mets are expected to need a sixth starter on Sunday, April 12 against the Oakland Athletics at Citi Field.

The players

Freddy Peralta

Acquired by the Mets in a trade with the Brewers this offseason, Peralta will get the ball on Opening Day.

David Peterson

The left-hander will start the second game of the season for the Mets.

Nolan McLean

After a strong rookie campaign in 2025, McLean will start the third game of the season for the Mets.

Clay Holmes

The right-hander will start the first game of the Mets' road series against the Cardinals.

Kodai Senga

The Japanese import will start the second game of the Mets' series against the Cardinals.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited about the depth and talent in our starting rotation this year. Peralta, Peterson, and McLean give us a strong top three, and we feel confident in the rest of the group as well.”

— Carlos Mendoza, Mets Manager

What’s next

The Mets will monitor Sean Manaea's progress and determine which starter he will piggy-back with to begin the season. The team will also keep a close eye on the health and performance of their starting pitchers throughout the early part of the schedule.

The takeaway

The Mets have bolstered their starting rotation this offseason, giving them a strong group to lead the way in 2026. If the pitching staff can stay healthy and productive, the Mets could be poised to make a deep playoff run after missing the postseason in 2025.