Peralta Poised for Season Start

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Freddy Peralta is geared up and ready to go.

The new ace for the Mets is set to kick off the season as the starter in the opening game. His performance on Saturday against the Astros was promising; he pitched four innings and gave up just one run.

As it stands, there’s only one game remaining before the regular season kicks off.

In the Mets’ 8-2 defeat against Houston at Palm Beaches Ballpark, Peralta’s strikeouts were notable.

He seemed unfazed, even acknowledging that his pitching velocity was slightly down—about a mile per hour lower than his typical range.

“Everything is going where I want it to be,” Peralta remarked. He has confidence in himself and understands how he operates as the season approaches. “When the game gets intense, that’s when I truly shine. I know what I need to do.”

He feels this way regardless of whether he pitches every five or six days, noting that the Mets might use a six-man rotation.

Manager Carlos Mendoza previously mentioned that Peralta would likely remain one of the starting pitchers under that rotation, although he noted that adjustments could be made based on the team’s requirements.

Peralta expressed that he is open to taking extra rest or pitching if contacted early. “No problem,” he said, “I’ve been in similar situations before. I know I can handle it.”

His experience and knowledge are being shared with other Mets starters, including Christian Scott.

Scott, who is making his way back to major league form following Tommy John surgery, has previously appeared in the spring. He is eager to learn from Peralta during training camp, as the rotation could also include Clay Holmes, Kodai Chiga, Nolan McLean, Sean Manaea, and David Peterson.

Peralta has established a reputation as a respected player, and he’s willing to pass on his knowledge.

Scott has made it clear he wants to capitalize on this opportunity. “I plan to pick his brain all season long,” he said. “He has a knack for striking out hitters, which is something I aim to do as a pitcher too. His pitching style is unique, and his ability to consistently perform and stay healthy is impressive. I want to mirror that.”

Scott has only started nine games in the majors, but he struck out eight batters in a recent outing—his second start with the Mets this season.

As Scott mentioned, Peralta has been consistently productive. Over the last three seasons, he has pitched at least 30 games with over 200 strikeouts, earning All-Star honors twice.

Scott recognizes it’s not purely about talent. He has been observing Peralta closely throughout spring training, picking up lessons even between starts.

“He’s someone who shows up the same way every single day,” Scott notes. “That reliability is sometimes underrated over a long season. It’s remarkable to see someone sustain high performance while facing challenges.”

Scott is beginning to grasp what it takes to maintain that level of consistency.

“His follow-through during practice is near-perfect,” Scott said. “Every pitch seems to hit its mark, and I can’t help but admire that. My follow-through needs work, but I’m getting there.”