The Mets thought they saw some positives from David Peterson as he put together back-to-back solid outings working behind an opener.
The left-hander struggled mightily, though, in his return to the rotation on Wednesday.
As has been the case all season, Peterson put the Mets behind from the get-go, as Washington was able to jump on him for a pair of runs on three hits and a wild pitch in the top of the first.
He’s now racked up an ugly 10.80 ERA in the opening frame through five starts.
Peterson then appeared to find his groove as he retired nine in a row, but things caved in on him in the fourth, as the Nationals made him pay for a one-out walk to Jacob Young.
The lefty gave up two hits and another walk, then almost danced his way out without further damage, but a bases loaded free pass to James Wood to forced in another run and end his night.
Sean Manaea entered and things spiraled from there, as he hit a batter before giving up a grand slam, pushing Peterson’s total to seven runs in just 3.2 innings of work.
“The first he fell behind hitters and they got to him,” Carlos Mendoza said. “In the fourth he lost a feel for all of his pitches — even with the bases loaded he had a chance to get out to it getting ahead of Wood 0-2, then issues the walk.
“It’s just the feel for his pitches, not able to get in the zone consistently, and it cost him.”
That specific issue has cost Peterson not just throughout the early-part of this season, but also as he was knocked around during the second-half last year.
With his ERA now sitting at an ugly 6.53 through seven appearances (five starts), Mendoza said that the team will have more discussions about how they use him moving forward.
While he’s going through it right now, they remain confident he can turn things around.
“He’s a big part of this team,” the skipper said.
“I’ve done it before,” Peterson added. “I believe in myself and know I have the stuff to do it.”
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