Will a 2025 All-Star Pitcher Lose His Spot in the Mets 2026 Starting Rotation?
David Peterson came into the 2026 season with a guaranteed starting rotation spot in the New York Mets rotation. After his up-and-down 2025 season, which didn’t end the way he wanted, the 2025 all-star pitcher came into the season to be consistent and became the third starter in the rotation, following co-aces Freddy Peralta and Nolan Mclean. Going into the 2026 season, Peterson is the longest-tenured player on the New York Mets roster, having made his Major League debut with the team in 2020. Following significant roster changes, he surpassed previous longest-tenured players like Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo.
Peterson was named a first-time all-star in 2025 and had a strong first half of the season, but struggled towards the end of the season as his workload increased by pitching more innings than he typically does because the Mets had a lack of production from the rest of their starters, and the bullpen was heavily used. He ended the season pitching a career high of 30 starts, which is nine more than his previous high. In addition, the Mets' 2025 all-star pitched 168.2 innings, which was also a career-high, surpassing his previous high of 121 innings, which is a big jump in production. He experienced a tale of two seasons in 2025, transitioning from an all-star caliber first half to a poor second half, marked by a significant drop in performance.
Through the first half of the 2025 season from May to July, Peterson was the Mets' most reliable starter, even their ace at times during this stretch, even pitching a shutout on June 11th. The 2025 all-star posted a 3.06 ERA over 109 innings with 93 strikeouts and a 1.239 WHIP, performing as a consistent workhorse for the rotation. However, the second half of his season was the total opposite. Through the second half of the 2025 season, from August to October, He dealt with struggles continuing into September, posting a 9.72 ERA over his last four starts of that month. His ERA jumped to 6.34 in 59.2 innings with a 1.609 whip, with an 8.42 ERA over his final nine starts. Also, the Mets were battling for a postseason berth, which they ultimately didn’t clinch due to a tiebreaker to the Cincinnati Reds during the final game of the season, which was partly due to Peterson's horrible second half.
Peterson, so far this season, has continued his struggles that happened in the second half of 2025. He made three starts and has a 6.14 ERA, 0-2 record, and has given up 11 runs, 10 of which are earned, in only 14.2 innings. Due to the 2025 all-star’s poor start to the season, there have been questions as to whether he should still be in the Mets’ starting rotation. There is an argument that it's only been three starts, but the way last season ended and the Mets have internal options on the major league roster, and in the minors in triple A, the question is valid to ask. The Mets have starter Sean Manaea in the bullpen as a long man, and he stretched out to move to the rotation, and Peterson can move to the bullpen with that role. In addition, Tobias Myers, who is also a starter in the bullpen. Triple-A starters options are Jonah Tong and Christian Scott, who have had a little Major League experience.
