Carlos Mendoza has officially tapped Freddy Peralta as the Mets’ Opening Day starter, a decision that seemed destined from the moment Peralta joined the team this offseason. Mendoza noted that Peralta had "earned it," and it's hard to argue with that sentiment.
Peralta's arrival marks a pivotal shift for the Mets, who made significant roster changes, saying goodbye to beloved players like Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Edwin Díaz. In their place, the team welcomed talents like Bo Bichette, Luis Robert Jr., and Jorge Polanco. The Mets made a bold move to acquire Peralta, trading top prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams, along with Tobias Myers, to bring him on board in January.
Last season, Peralta was the ace for the Brewers, leading all NL starters with 17 wins. His impressive stats included a 2.70 ERA, a 3.64 FIP, and a 1.08 WHIP, not to mention 204 strikeouts over 176 2/3 innings. His performance earned him an All-Star nod and a fifth-place finish in the Cy Young voting for 2025.
Peralta is set to become the Mets' fifth Opening Day starter in as many years, following in the footsteps of Clay Holmes, Jose Quintana, Max Scherzer, and Tylor Megill. Before them, it was Jacob deGrom who held the role from 2019 to 2021.
Looking ahead, Peralta is expected to face off against Paul Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, when the Mets take on the Pirates at Citi Field on March 26 to launch the 2026 MLB season. This matchup promises to be a thrilling start to the year for baseball fans.