Ranking the Mets starting pitcher options for the now-necessary Game 5 

1. David Peterson

The ideal candidate for the fans and the composition of the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup should be David Peterson. Peterson has been a reliable pitcher since the Mets' late-season rotation and in his fluid role in the bullpen in these playoffs.

Peterson has kept the opposition practically neutralized but his efficiency has been even better against lefties, something this Dodgers lineup has in excess. During 2024, Peterson managed to hold left-handed hitters to a .218 batting average with an SLG of just .303.

His level of dominance towards lefties is surprising with an elite K/BB of 6.33 and a hard-hit contact of just 23.5%. These numbers are shown significantly better by pitching at Citi Field where lefties hit for a line of .200/.254/.309 with a K/9 of 12.89, a BB/9 of just 1.89, and a hard-hit contact that decreases to only 20.6%.

The above shows why Peterson should be the number one option as a starter for game five of the championship series against the Dodgers. Unfortunately, the fact that the Mets bullpen does not have a truly trustworthy left-handed arm makes the presence of Peterson necessary in this role that he has been playing during these playoffs, therefore, the guarantee that Peterson can be the starter of game five will depend on the intensive use that can be given to it during these next games.