Mets' Carlos Mendoza Comments on Struggling Pitcher
The New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has backed David Peterson despite another difficult outing for the pitcher in Wednesday's 9-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. Max Goodman posted on X that Mendoza addressed Peterson's struggles after the game and admitted it has been difficult to explain why the left-hander has continued to struggle this deep into the season.
Mendoza said Peterson is a good pitcher who has shown flashes of brilliance, especially when working as a bulk reliever. He added that mistakes such as walks, pitch selection, and missed execution have hurt Peterson in key moments, but the Mets still trust him and believe he can get important outs for the team.
Peterson struggled again as the Cardinals handed the Mets their second straight loss in the series. The left-hander entered the game in a bulk relief role but lasted only 3⅔ innings. He allowed six earned runs on seven hits, walked two batters, and gave up two home runs as New York fell to 29-38 on the season.
The 31-year-old kept the Cardinals off the board early, but things changed in the middle innings when St. Louis struck first as Nelson Velázquez connected for a two-run home run. Not long after, Jordan Walker delivered an even bigger blow with a three-run homer that pushed the Cardinals to a 7-0 lead.
Carlos Mendoza was asked about how David Peterson is still struggling this deep into the season.
— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) June 11, 2026
"It's hard to describe. He's a good pitcher and we've seen flashes, especially coming out of the bullpen as that bulk guy. But yeah, I think it's just outings where whether it's a…
Those two swings accounted for five of the six earned runs Peterson allowed. Before Wednesday, he had surrendered only two home runs across his previous 13 appearances combined.
The sudden rise in hard contact highlighted the problems that have followed him throughout much of the season. The Mets managed little offensively against St. Louis pitching.
Francisco Alvarez provided the only scoring for New York when he launched a two-run home run. Alvarez served as the designated hitter and finished with both of the Mets' RBIs. Aside from that swing, the Cardinals controlled the game from start to finish.
Peterson's latest outing continued a difficult season, and his ERA climbed to 5.75 while his WHIP rose to 1.64 after Wednesday's loss. He has struggled to find consistency whether working as a starter or reliever. He allowed 14 runs across his first four starts and eventually moved into a bullpen role.
That change initially helped him, as he entered Wednesday with a 1.88 ERA in relief compared to a 7.56 ERA as a starter. Last season, however, looked very different for Peterson, who earned his first All-Star selection after posting a 6-4 record with a 3.06 ERA in the first half of the 2025 season. He emerged as one of the Mets' most reliable pitchers and played a key role in their success.
The Mets will continue to monitor Peterson's form as they work through a challenging stretch of the season, with the team still relying on him to contribute in both starting and relief roles.
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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 10:37 AM.