With the New York Mets already dealing with a stretched and unstable rotation, David Peterson’s latest outing has intensified questions about his long-term role in the starting five. Another rough performance in a 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies has placed the veteran left-hander under renewed scrutiny as the team continues to search for consistency on the mound.
Peterson’s struggles were evident early on Sunday night at Citizens Bank Park. He issued walks to Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber in the opening inning and was further hurt by defensive miscues and timely hitting, including a costly three-run home run by Schwarber in the second inning. By the time he settled in, the damage had already been done, putting the Mets in an early hole they could not escape.
This latest setback comes amid an extended stretch of inconsistency for Peterson, who has now posted a 10.97 ERA over his last three starts. Once an All-Star in the previous season, his recent form has made it difficult for the Mets to justify keeping him locked into the rotation, especially with alternatives beginning to emerge.
Manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged the situation after the game but stopped short of making any immediate decisions, emphasizing that internal evaluations are ongoing. “We’ve got to see what we’ve got here in the upcoming days,” Mendoza said, noting that the organization will likely hold discussions about potential adjustments to the pitching staff.
The Mets do have reinforcements on the horizon. Kodai Senga has already rejoined the rotation, while Christian Scott could return from injury soon. However, scheduling constraints and upcoming games may force the club to make short-term decisions before those reinforcements are fully available, leaving Peterson’s rotation spot in immediate doubt.
Despite his struggles, Peterson showed brief resilience by retiring the final eight batters he faced, but the early damage once again overshadowed any late improvement. Over his last several appearances dating back to mid-season, his numbers reflect a prolonged dip in form, raising concerns about his ability to stabilize a Mets rotation already under pressure.
Outfielder Juan Soto acknowledged the team’s broader issues, pointing to inconsistency as a recurring problem. “It’s tough, but it’s just part of baseball. We’ve just got to be a little bit more consistent,” he said.
With injuries, performance issues, and scheduling complications all factoring into the equation, the Mets face mounting pressure to restructure their pitching plans quickly. For Peterson, the margin for error continues to shrink as the team weighs whether to stick with him or explore other options moving forward.
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