2 reasons the NY Mets are right to move David Peterson back to the rotation, 1 reason they’re wrong

David Peterson hasn’t been a starting pitcher, technically, for several weeks. They moved him into a bulk reliever role and magic appeared. Somehow, someway even with 4+ innings asked of him, he turned things around for the better. His 2.25 ERA as a reliever vs. 8.10 as a starter had the New York Mets waiting five turns through the rotation before they moved him back in there.

Peterson will start Thursday’s finale against the Washington Nationals. Looking to end a 2-game skid after taking the opener vs. the Nats, this change of direction will be the big debate of the day depending on the results. Are they right or are they wrong?

The Mets are right because David Peterson shouldn’t be catered to

David Peterson isn’t the type of player you bend over backwards for. He came into the year as a back-of-the-rotation arm in terms of ability. He should have always been on the fringe of starting games for them in the first place. Only because Kodai Senga was worse and Sean Manaea has built up no trust with the team has he been able to stay with the team this long. It also helps that, despite the need for an opener, Peterson did well.

Throwing an opener into the mix isn’t detrimental in the game actually being played. Where it hurts is the day before or after. Huascar Brazoban has been the club’s most frequently used opener in place of Peterson. As excellent as it gets this year out of the bullpen, the Mets cannot afford to use him in Peterson’s game and not have him available the day before or after. Brazoban, and every reliever for that matter, should be on a game-to-game basis at the end while not getting wasted at the start because one of your guys for some unexplainable reason only pitches well in bulk relief.

The Mets are right because they need to find out if he has corrected some of his problems

What’s inside the mystery box? It’s a question that has plagued humanity. They made a whole Indiana Jones movie about it. Peterson’s success in bulk relief has raised a question: has he actually figured things out to the point where he can start games for them again?

They won’t know until they try. Likely to have a quick hook in place with the low expectation of lasting 4 innings and maybe exiting with trouble on the bases in the fifth, the loss of Clay Holmes has forced the issue. The Mets cannot get away with using an opener for one of their lesser starting pitchers forever.

The Mets are wrong because this is working and wins matter more than anything

Then there’s the other side of the argument. If it works, why mess with it? The Mets are 3-2 in games where Peterson has had an opener. One of the worst losses, ironically enough, came against the Nationals in a 14-2 loss in late April.

Could this simply be a one-time-run-through to avoid the same disastrous consequences the last time Peterson went against the Nationals? A week-to-week decision for the Mets, the Nationals’ league-best .798 OPS against southpaws suggests doom regardless of when Peterson will pitch. If the team was willing to throw rookie Zach Thornton to the wolves against them, a seasoned veteran like Peterson doesn’t deserve the courtesy of the kid gloves.

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