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Mets’ biggest flop to begin 2026 MLB season

Originally posted on MLB on ClutchPoints | Last updated Apr 9, 2026 8:54 AM ET

The New York Mets head into a Thursday rubber match with the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7-5 on the season. After a grizzly start for the offense, things have turned around for the Amazins. They scored 26 runs in a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants, which they won. Now that the offense has seemingly turned a corner, the Mets’ pitching, specifically David Peterson, is in the crosshairs.

Peterson has made three starts this season, and the first one was great. He went 5.1 shutout innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing just six hits. But since then, he has thrown 9.1 innings and allowed ten runs. That includes five runs allowed on Wednesday before the Mets even mustered a hit.

Peterson was sensational for the Mets before last year’s All-Star Break. He posted a 3.06 ERA in 18 starts, and New York won ten of those games. But in the 12 post-break starts, he posted a 6.40 ERA, and the team went 5-7. When discussing the unreal 2025 Mets collapse, Peterson’s declining form must be mentioned.

In the offseason, the Mets traded for Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers to be their ace, but Peterson needed to be his number two. That has not happened yet, with the Giants and Diamondbacks both smacking him around. New York does not have a ton of money tied into him, but have put a lot of pressure on him to be a great starter.

The rest of the Mets’ rotation has been solid, starting with Peralta, who has led the team to two wins. Clay Holmes has been sensational in his two starts, Kodai Senga appears to be back and healthy, and Nolan McLean has lived up to expectations. That has helped steady the ship after a rough opening week, but Peterson is still not pulling his weight.

Mets who are struggling besides David Peterson

John Jones-Imagn Images

For the first few games of the season, the Mets’ offense was getting rightfully crushed by fans and critics. After an 11-run outburst on Opening Day, they went six consecutive games without scoring more than four runs. The Tuesday loss was their first since breaking through the five-run barrier against the Giants last week.

Despite the offense waking up, their leader has not broken through quite yet. Francisco Lindor has a .149 batting average, second-worst of Mets regulars, and a .566 OPS, fifth-worst. He has not hit a home run yet, but he does have two triples to start the season. It has gotten worse in his last eight games, managing just four hits with one double.

The Mets added 23-year-old Carson Benge to the Opening Day roster and made him their starting right fielder right away. An Opening Day homer was great for the fans who braved the cold that day, but things have gotten ugly since then. He broke a 0-for-22 stretch with a ninth-inning single on Tuesday and has had his struggles in the field as well.

The Mets have incredibly high expectations coming into the 2026 season. They responded to their 2025 collapse by moving on from fan favorites and long-term members of the team. Gone are the days of Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Diaz, and Jeff McNeil. Steve Cohen spent money to replace them, but there are still some loose ends to start the week.

The Mets did place Juan Soto on the injured list with a calf strain after injuring the muscle while running the bases in San Francisco. That puts a lot of pressure on Lindor and the rest of the offense to deliver while he is out. But Peterson getting back on track could be the answer for the Amazins after stumbling out of the gate.

This article first appeared on MLB on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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