CHICAGO -- The Mets announced late Saturday night that right-hander Tobias Myers would get the start on Sunday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field in place of lefty David Peterson.
The change of plans was not injury related, but manager Carlos Mendoza did point out the club was trying to limit the amount of at-bats Peterson had against right-handers at the top of a lineup. Peterson, who has struggled to an 0-3 record and 6.41 ERA across four starts this year entering Sunday, had given up a .339 average to righties this season.
Mendoza said that Peterson would still play a role in Sunday’s game, just not as the starter. That came true when Peterson entered in the bottom of the third inning after Myers tossed two scoreless frames.
Myers needed 28 pitches (16 strikes) to work around a pair of leadoff baserunners in both the first and second innings. Peterson immediately allowed a leadoff triple to Pete Crow-Armstrong to begin the third, but escaped the jam with a groundout and a lineout double play.
Then, Peterson got to work. Despite giving up three hits and striking out only one, the left-hander worked 3 2/3 scoreless frames to hand things off to the ‘pen with two outs in the sixth with a 1-0 lead thanks to MJ Melendez’s solo homer in the fifth inning.
Huascar Brazobán walked the first two batters to load the bases, but unlike Saturday, the Mets escaped the sixth inning and kept Peterson’s line spotless. But it was still not enough, as New York fell 2-1 to Chicago in 10 innings for its 11th straight loss.
“We knew there was a possibility that we were gonna go either an opener or somebody in front of Peterson, right after his last outing,” Mendoza said. “It was communicated to him after his last outing that there was a chance. But ... we needed to get to this day and see what kind of shape the bullpen was in. And yesterday we obviously gave him the official word. But just trying to create a more balanced lineup, given how teams are stacking up righties, especially at the top, against Peter. Just trying to create a better balance there for everyone and try to get 27 outs.”
No decision has been made yet on whether the Mets plan to employ an opener ahead of Peterson’s next start.
After an All-Star campaign last season, Peterson has had a rough April. He began this year with 5 1/3 scoreless frames against the Pirates on March 28, but in his past three starts entering Sunday he has an 8.79 ERA and 1.95 WHIP in 14 1/3 innings. He gave up four runs on five hits with four walks in his last start against the Dodgers.
Despite the Mets’ 11-game losing streak, the club’s longest since losing 11 in a row in 2004, this decision was not made in relation to the team’s performance, but rather Peterson’s.
“I think it’s more just putting players in position to have success,” Mendoza said. “Like I said, this was a conversation right after his last outing. Whether we’re winning or losing, I think it just came down to putting players in position to have success.”
Myers, who was acquired this past offseason from Milwaukee alongside Freddy Peralta, has made six relief appearances for the Mets this season, compiling a 3.46 ERA with nine strikeouts over 13 innings. The 27-year-old has made 31 starts in his career prior to Sunday, with 25 of those coming in 2024 with the Brewers. He had an 8-7 lifetime record and 3.48 ERA as a starter entering the finale.
Myers has gone multiple innings in all of his relief appearances this season, with a season-high 39 pitches coming on March 26.
“He’s a guy that’s going to go out there and give you a chance to win baseball games,” Mendoza said. “... I like how he’s attacking.”
That’s something the Mets have been in dire need of during this skid. New York’s pitchers entered Sunday with a 6.25 ERA during the 10-game losing streak, despite Peralta allowing one run through the first five innings before the Cubs hit a three-run homer off reliever Brooks Raley to break the game open. As an offense, the Mets have scored two or fewer runs in nine of the past 11 games and have been outscored 62-19 in that stretch.
The Mets will turn to Nolan McLean (2.28 ERA) on Tuesday following an off-day as they return home to Citi Field looking to snap their skid.