Tossed salads get shaken up less than an MLB roster after the trade deadline. Almost three weeks removed from the last major effort to improve the New York Mets roster, we have some new additions helping to jiggle the depth chart around.
The more hypothetical than real depth chart is a “what have you done for more lately?” place that doesn’t necessarily pay much attention to position. Falling down the lineup, getting used in only low-leverage spots, etc. all play a factor for these four Mets.
Two are moving up the depth chart. Two others are falling down.
David Peterson is moving up the Mets depth chart
Let’s put some respect on David Peterson’s name. He is 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA in his last 3 starts. His starts aren’t always clean but the man gets results. Rocking a 7-1 record and 3.04 ERA in 13 starts this season, the only thing we could ask from him is the same request from the rest of the starting staff: throw more innings and walk fewer batters.
Peterson hasn’t been overly terrific for any extended period this season. Not once this season has he had a month where he struck out more batters than innings he pitched. Prone to giving up base runners as exemplified clearly through the .244/.341/.357 slash line against him, Peterson is a perplexing pitcher.
Credit the Mets defense and some timely pitching from Peterson to help work out of the jams. An average inning from him seems to include a single and a walk with a groundball double play to get out of it. This is a dirty way to get through a frame. Somehow, it’s working really well even with so many other pedestrian numbers.
In part rising up the Mets depth chart because others have faltered, Peterson has done the most important thing a pitcher can do. When he pitches, the Mets have a chance to win. They’re 10-3 in his starts this season.