David Peterson, Trevor Williams can be a useful combination

The New York Mets will start David Peterson on Sunday in their finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It will be his first start of the season and second appearance. You’ll probably recall, he was the man called upon to get the Mets through Taijuan Walker’s start when he exited early.

Although it’s Peterson getting the start, Trevor Williams should be prepared to come into the game and give the Mets an inning or two or three.

This spot in the Mets rotation is now the weakest link in the chain. It doesn’t have to be. Peterson can do his best Tylor Megill impression and stun us all. Williams can also help out by providing him with some good relief. It may not be the plan Buck Showalter has for Sunday but if Peterson stays in the rotation for any length of time, Williams can be a nice complementary piece to throw off the other team’s lineups.

The Mets can get creative with David Peterson and Trevor Williams sharing duties on the mound for now

The lefty/righty combo works in theory because of the way opposing managers will set up their lineups. Versus Peterson, you better believe they’re going to stack the righties. When Williams is on the mound, the lefties will probably have more fun.

Not an entirely out-of-the-box way of handling things, it’s probably the best way to deal with the situation. The only thing that might make it better is if they were reversed.

Let’s say Williams was the starter. He could go against a normal lineup with lefties in it for an inning or two. Then, the Mets pull the rug out. Peterson is into the game. The opposing manager can make the switches he needs. Righties enter the game. Peterson can handle himself for two innings. Then the Mets go back to where they started with another righty on the hill.

This isn’t quite Craig Counsell starting lefty Wade Miley in the playoffs then lifting him after one batter for righty Brandon Woodruff. Unless, of course, Showalter lifts Williams much earlier than expected. Maybe after one inning, to save Williams for a relief appearance in another two days, he hits the showers and Peterson gets a chance to face a left-handed-heavy lineup.

Needless to say, this only works with certain rosters. Plus, I would hope, other managers would be prepared for this kind of strategy.

Teams lacking left-handed bats won’t make much of a difference. And a club like the Diamondbacks don’t really pose much of a threat regardless of the batter’s box they stand in. The Mets don’t have to try to outsmart anyone right now. The best teams are the ones that can face any kind of trouble. So far, this Mets team looks capable.