The New York Mets head into the 2026 season with a full stable of starting pitchers-and the flexibility to roll out a six-man rotation if they choose. That decision hasn’t been made official, but the pieces are there. Whether it’s a strategic move or just a way to brace for the inevitable wear and tear of a long season, the Mets are positioned to keep their arms fresh, especially with several starters who could thrive with extra rest.
Let’s start with Kodai Senga. We’ve seen enough to know he benefits from an extra day between starts.
His stuff plays better, his command sharpens, and the Mets have quietly managed his workload since he arrived. Sean Manaea, coming off an injury-riddled 2025, fits the mold too.
A six-man rotation could help ease him back into a full-season workload without pushing too hard, too fast.
Then there’s Clay Holmes, returning to a starter’s role. Rebuilding that stamina takes time, and spacing out his starts could help him stay effective deep into the year.
David Peterson’s another one to watch-he hit a wall midseason last year, and a lighter schedule could be the key to keeping him consistent. And Nolan McLean?
He’s the future. No need to overextend a young arm that could anchor the rotation for years to come.
But perhaps the most intriguing case is Freddy Peralta. He’s not the guy you’d expect to need a break-he’s durable, efficient, and doesn’t show many signs of fatigue. Still, the numbers tell a more nuanced story.
Freddy Peralta and the Rest-Day Puzzle
Peralta’s 2025 splits based on rest days are fascinating. In 12 starts on the standard four days’ rest, he posted a 2.59 ERA-his lowest in any rest category.
But dig deeper, and you’ll see hitters slashed .235/.317/.329 against him in those outings. Solid, but not dominant.
There’s a case to be made that he was pitching well, but also getting a little help from luck and defense.
Now, look at what he did with five days of rest-essentially the rhythm of a six-man rotation. In 17 starts, his ERA ticked up slightly to 2.65, but the underlying numbers were sharper.
Opponents managed just a .170/.257/.339 line against him, and his strikeout rate jumped to 11.4 per nine innings. That’s a significant leap from the one-K-per-inning pace he managed on four days’ rest.
Even with six or more days between starts, Peralta held his own. He made four starts in that category, posting a 3.22 ERA, but again, the slash line was elite: .165/.239/.266. He may have allowed a few more runs, but he was missing bats and limiting damage-two signs of a pitcher who’s still in full control.
What’s especially interesting is that Peralta’s career numbers follow a similar pattern. His ERAs on four days’ rest have historically been the best, but the batted-ball data and strikeout rates suggest he’s actually more dominant with additional rest. And at this point in his career, recent trends matter more than what he did back in 2021.
How the Mets Might Use Him
Peralta isn’t the kind of arm you need to skip when an off-day pops up. In fact, he might be the guy you keep on schedule while giving someone else a breather.
The Brewers clearly saw the value in spacing him out. Down the stretch in 2025, they gave him five or more days of rest between every start except one-and in that lone four-day-rest outing?
Five shutout innings. Classic Peralta.
He’s now 931 innings deep into his Major League career and firmly in his prime. The Mets don’t need to baby him, but they should absolutely be thinking about how to maximize what he brings to the mound.
He made 33 starts last year, even with the extra rest baked in. Only Logan Webb had more starts across the league, with 34.
So, will the Mets go with a six-man rotation? Maybe.
Maybe not. But if they do, it won’t be because of Freddy Peralta.
It’ll be because they have a group of arms that could benefit from the rhythm, and because they’re trying to get the most out of a staff with real upside. Peralta just happens to be the kind of pitcher who can thrive no matter how the schedule shakes out-but give him that extra day, and he might just look even more like an ace.