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NEW YORK — David Peterson walked down the dugout stairs, haplessly tossed his glove toward the bench and descended into the clubhouse without looking back.
The Mets left-hander did not stick around to see if the baserunner he left on base reached home. The damage had already been done.
Peterson allowed six earned runs on seven hits, including two home runs, in 3⅔ innings of bulk relief as the Mets dropped a second straight game to the Cardinals, 9-2, on Wednesday night at Citi Field.
In a pair of innings, Peterson allowed a two-run home run to Nelson Velazquez and a three-run blast to Jordan Walker that moved the Cardinals out in front 7-0. The lefty had allowed just two home runs in his previous 13 outings combined.
It was another sign of trouble for a Mets core of starting pitchers that has not met their expectations in 2026.
"They hit him on a couple of fastballs. One sinker, one four-seam there from Walker that they hit him pretty hard," Carlos Mendoza said. "A couple of walks ended up costing him. At times, the sinker is good there with some of the ground balls, but then he left a couple of pitches there and they hit him hard."
Peterson was not in the clubhouse for comment following the Mets' loss, the latest sign of frustrations boiling over for the club, which has woefully fell short of expectations. The loss moved the Mets back to 29-38 on the season.
It has been a sharp drop-off for Peterson, who earned his first All-Star selection last season when he posted a 6-4 record and 3.06 ERA across 18 starts in the first half last season. His ERA and WHIP ballooned to 5.75 and 1.64, respectively, following Thursday's letdown.
"It's hard to describe. He's a good pitcher and we've seen flashes, especially coming out of our bullpen - that bulk guy," Mendoza said. "I think it's just outings whether it's a walk, whether it's pitch selection, not executing and today was one of those.
"I look at him as a guy that we're going to need to get big outs for us. I'm confident in Peterson, if though it's been hard for him. We continue to trust him and continue to work with him."
The 2026 season has been a trying one for Peterson. After allowing a combined 14 runs in his first four starts and was shifted into a bullpen role. The left-hander had found success there, entering Wednesday with a 1.88 ERA out of the bullpen, compared to a 7.56 mark as a starting pitcher.
When given a chance back in the rotation, Peterson gave up six runs in five innings on May 26 against the Reds in his second outing back in a starting role. During that appearance, he neglected to back up home plate on a throw that reached the backstop, which allowed a runner to advance.
Peterson's lapses in control, paired with some hard contact early in counts, leaked into Peterson's latest relief outing Wednesday. It was the sixth time that Peterson has allowed four earned runs or more in an appearance but only the first time out of the bullpen.
"He's a strong-minded person and there have points in his career where he's had tough stretches, but he always finds a way to always get out of there," Francisco Alvarez said through an interpreter. "I know that as long as he continues to work, he'll get out of it. By the end of the season, he'll have the numbers that he wants to have."
The scene created another sense of worry for the Mets and their pitching staff, which had just seen Freddy Peralta give up six earned runs of his own on Tuesday.
It also heaped added pressure on a scuffling Mets offense for the second straight night.
Peterson had converted his first career save in his previous outing, with four scoreless innings to close out a lopsided win over the Marlins, but it had been nine days between outings for the left-hander. It was his first flat performance out of the bullpen.
Mendoza continued to back Peterson after the latest wobbly outing, but it is getting harder to trust Peterson following Wednesday's display.
"Keep going with him," Mendoza said. "We need him. Continue to help him, continue to give him the ball. We got to help him."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: David Peterson and NY Mets pitchers frustrated after latest loss
Continue reading...
The Mets left-hander did not stick around to see if the baserunner he left on base reached home. The damage had already been done.
Peterson allowed six earned runs on seven hits, including two home runs, in 3⅔ innings of bulk relief as the Mets dropped a second straight game to the Cardinals, 9-2, on Wednesday night at Citi Field.
In a pair of innings, Peterson allowed a two-run home run to Nelson Velazquez and a three-run blast to Jordan Walker that moved the Cardinals out in front 7-0. The lefty had allowed just two home runs in his previous 13 outings combined.
It was another sign of trouble for a Mets core of starting pitchers that has not met their expectations in 2026.
"They hit him on a couple of fastballs. One sinker, one four-seam there from Walker that they hit him pretty hard," Carlos Mendoza said. "A couple of walks ended up costing him. At times, the sinker is good there with some of the ground balls, but then he left a couple of pitches there and they hit him hard."
Peterson was not in the clubhouse for comment following the Mets' loss, the latest sign of frustrations boiling over for the club, which has woefully fell short of expectations. The loss moved the Mets back to 29-38 on the season.
It has been a sharp drop-off for Peterson, who earned his first All-Star selection last season when he posted a 6-4 record and 3.06 ERA across 18 starts in the first half last season. His ERA and WHIP ballooned to 5.75 and 1.64, respectively, following Thursday's letdown.
"It's hard to describe. He's a good pitcher and we've seen flashes, especially coming out of our bullpen - that bulk guy," Mendoza said. "I think it's just outings whether it's a walk, whether it's pitch selection, not executing and today was one of those.
"I look at him as a guy that we're going to need to get big outs for us. I'm confident in Peterson, if though it's been hard for him. We continue to trust him and continue to work with him."
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The 2026 season has been a trying one for Peterson. After allowing a combined 14 runs in his first four starts and was shifted into a bullpen role. The left-hander had found success there, entering Wednesday with a 1.88 ERA out of the bullpen, compared to a 7.56 mark as a starting pitcher.
When given a chance back in the rotation, Peterson gave up six runs in five innings on May 26 against the Reds in his second outing back in a starting role. During that appearance, he neglected to back up home plate on a throw that reached the backstop, which allowed a runner to advance.
Peterson's lapses in control, paired with some hard contact early in counts, leaked into Peterson's latest relief outing Wednesday. It was the sixth time that Peterson has allowed four earned runs or more in an appearance but only the first time out of the bullpen.
"He's a strong-minded person and there have points in his career where he's had tough stretches, but he always finds a way to always get out of there," Francisco Alvarez said through an interpreter. "I know that as long as he continues to work, he'll get out of it. By the end of the season, he'll have the numbers that he wants to have."
You must be registered for see images
The scene created another sense of worry for the Mets and their pitching staff, which had just seen Freddy Peralta give up six earned runs of his own on Tuesday.
It also heaped added pressure on a scuffling Mets offense for the second straight night.
Peterson had converted his first career save in his previous outing, with four scoreless innings to close out a lopsided win over the Marlins, but it had been nine days between outings for the left-hander. It was his first flat performance out of the bullpen.
Mendoza continued to back Peterson after the latest wobbly outing, but it is getting harder to trust Peterson following Wednesday's display.
"Keep going with him," Mendoza said. "We need him. Continue to help him, continue to give him the ball. We got to help him."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: David Peterson and NY Mets pitchers frustrated after latest loss
Continue reading...
