Left-hander David Peterson, regarded just last month as the New York Mets’ sixth- or seventh-best starting option, is already in the two-hole.
Peterson, 27, will face the host Miami Marlins on Friday night after the Mets won 5-3 on Opening Day.
The reason for Peterson’s promotion is the Mets have two starters on the injured list. Projected fifth starter Jose Quintana (rib surgery) isn’t expected back until at least July, and new co-ace Justin Verlander, who pitched for the Houston Astros last year and won his third Cy Young Award, was placed on the injured list Thursday due to a muscle strain.
“This isn’t the best-case scenario,” Verlander said of his injury. “But it’s probably the second-best case, very minimal.”
This is Peterson’s fourth year in the majors. Last season, he won a career-high seven games, going 7-5 with a 3.83 ERA in 28 appearances (19 starts).
Peterson has been good in five career appearances (four starts) against the Marlins, going 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA.
New York’s bullpen entered this season as a source of concern after closer Edwin Diaz was lost to a knee injury during the World Baseball Classic earlier this month. But on Opening Day, the Mets got three scoreless relief innings — one each from Drew Smith, Brooks Raley and David Robertson (save).
This series features the two reigning batting champions: New York’s Jeff McNeil and Miami’s Luis Arraez, who came over from the Minnesota Twins in an offseason trade. Both play second base and both went 2-fo
