David Peterson, Photo By Ernest Dove

Last week, Tylor Megill was demoted to Triple-A Syracuse due to his struggles. David Peterson was recalled to take his place in the rotation, and Vinny Nittoli was optioned back to Triple-A.

While the expectation was the New York Mets were going to call-up Joey Lucchesi, the organization instead opted for David Peterson because the general manager believed Peterson’s walk and strikeout rates were in an area which would lead to success at the Major League level.

For what it is worth, Peterson had a 10.5 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in Triple-A. He was striking out 25.9% of batters he faced while walking 13.9% of batters. These numbers were not as a good as the 27.8 K% and 10.6 BB% when he posted 101 ERA+ in 28 Major League appearances last season.

The choice of Peterson was openly questioned by fans and reporters before the game. The questions seemed justified when Peterson walked Christian Yelich and Willy Adames to load the bases. However, Peterson would get Owen Miller to swing at a first pitch curveball to ground into an inning ending double play.

David Peterson escapes the inning unscathed with a double play!
pic.twitter.com/O2RQmgNjuA

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) June 27, 2023

It was one of two double plays the Mets would turn with Peterson on the mound. The second would come in the fourth in what was another critical juncture.

Peterson issued a lead-off walk to Adames to start the inning, and Miller would follow with a single. Peterson made the pitch he needed again this time getting Luis Urias to hit into a double play. He would get out of the inning with allowing a run.

In fact, Peterson would go pitch six scoreless innings in what was easily his best start of the season. After issuing those two first inning walks, he would only walk one other batter.

Peterson did not record a strikeout until he struck out Brian Anderson to end the third. From there, he would strike out five of the last 10 batters he would face in the game.

Certainly with this start, Peterson has earned himself another opportunity. Of course, we do not know how many more starts he will receive with Jose Quintana pitching well during his rehab stint.