The New York Mets received a timely boost on Thursday as left-hander David Peterson delivered one of his most composed and effective outings of the season, helping secure a tight 2-1 victory over the Washington Nationals in the series finale at Nationals Park.
Following the win, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza offered a candid but supportive evaluation of Peterson’s progress, highlighting both the pitcher’s earlier struggles and the organization’s continued confidence in his long-term role within the rotation.
Peterson’s outing carried extra weight given how inconsistent his season had been up to that point. The southpaw had been shuffled between starting duties, bullpen work, and bulk relief appearances as the Mets tried to stabilize his performance. Through his first six starts, the results were uneven, including difficult outings against teams like the San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Nationals earlier in the year.
Before taking the mound on Thursday, Peterson’s numbers as a starter were troubling, carrying an 8.10 ERA. However, there had been subtle signs of improvement in recent weeks, particularly out of the bullpen, where he posted a 2.50 ERA over his previous four appearances.
After the game, Mendoza’s comments shared via SNY on X (formerly Twitter)—reflected a balanced perspective. While acknowledging Peterson’s early-season inconsistency, the Mets skipper reaffirmed the team’s belief that the left-hander can still be a reliable option in the rotation moving forward.
“He’s a really good pitcher that went through struggles, but we believe in him,” Mendoza said. “Now it’s time for him to continue to do that, and he will.”
Peterson responded in kind with his strongest performance in weeks. After working out of a bases-loaded jam in the opening inning, he quickly settled into a rhythm, limiting the Nationals to just one run over five innings while earning the win.
The outing was a sharp contrast to his previous start against Washington on April 29, when he was tagged for seven earned runs in less than four innings.
The timing of his rebound couldn’t have been better for New York. With starter Clay Holmes recently landing on the injured list due to a fractured right fibula, the Mets suddenly needed stability in their rotation. Peterson’s encouraging performance offered a glimpse of that reliability, giving the team hope that he can help anchor the pitching staff during a challenging stretch of the season ahead.
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