David Peterson – The New York Mets’ rotation has been a point of uncertainty lately. With Kodai Senga’s return to the mound still up in the air and Jose Quintana struggling to regain his form, the Mets have had to rely on unexpected sources to stabilize their pitching staff. Recently, the team has seen some encouraging performances, including a complete-game shutout from Luis Severino and a solid outing by Sean Manaea, which provided a much-needed boost against the Miami Marlins.

However, it was David Peterson’s performance on Monday night that stole the spotlight. Facing the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field, Peterson delivered what Mets manager Carlos Mendoza described as “probably the best outing of the year.” Despite the Mets’ 4-3 victory being marred by a few hiccups, Peterson’s seven innings of work showcased his potential and resilience.

Peterson’s outing was nearly flawless, save for a peculiar seventh inning. He allowed just an unearned run up until that point, and his performance could have been even better were it not for a strange sequence involving a balk. This misstep allowed a run to score and briefly disrupted Peterson’s rhythm. Nonetheless, his final line was impressive: seven innings pitched, just one earned run allowed, and a season-high number of innings.

In his last four starts, Peterson has shown significant improvement. Over 24 ¹/₃ innings, he’s surrendered only five earned runs, posting a remarkable 1.85 ERA. The most notable aspect of his recent form has been his control. On Monday, Peterson walked just one batter, a stark contrast to his previous two starts where he issued seven walks over 11 ¹/₃ innings. This newfound command was a key factor in his successful outing against the Orioles.

Peterson himself credited his success to a more focused approach. “Just be in the [strike] zone, attack and trust myself, trust the defense, trust [Francisco Alvarez],” he explained. “I felt very consistent with all my pitches and could throw anything at any time.” This mindset allowed Peterson to manage the game effectively and stay competitive throughout his start.

Peterson’s performance was especially critical as the Mets navigated a challenging period. Early in the game, he had managed to keep Baltimore at bay, giving up just two baserunners until the fifth inning. However, a double by Ramon Urias and a subsequent error on a pickoff attempt by Peterson led to the Orioles’ first run, which came on a groundout by Jackson Holliday.

Despite this setback, Peterson held a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning. But then came another twist: Ryan Mountcastle led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. Peterson struck out Colton Cowser for the second out, but a lapse in pitch count awareness led to a balk call. This allowed Mountcastle to score, closing the gap to 3-2. The following pitch saw Urias hitting a home run, which tied the game.

Though this series of events could have rattled many pitchers, Peterson’s resilience was evident. He didn’t let the balk or the home run deter him, but rather continued to pitch with determination. The game was ultimately decided by Francisco Alvarez, who hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth, sealing a dramatic 4-3 win for the Mets.

This victory was crucial for the Mets, who were coming off a disappointing series against Oakland and had failed to sweep the last-place Marlins. As they try to stay in contention for the National League wild-card spot, the Mets needed a strong performance, and Peterson delivered just that. The emotional win was a significant boost, reflecting the team’s resilience and the importance of every game in their pursuit of a playoff spot.

Despite the ups and downs, Peterson remains focused on the present. “I understand the perspective of ‘Are we in, are we out?’” he said. “We’re focused on the game today.” His performance on Monday was a testament to that mindset, and it was certainly good enough to help the Mets secure a much-needed victory.