David Peterson struggles again in loss to Diamondbacks as Mets' winning streak ends

Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News on Apr 8, 2026

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — For the second start in a row, David Peterson didn’t have it.

The left-hander was hit hard early in Wednesday afternoon’s 7-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at frigid Citi Field as the Mets’ four-game winning streak came to an end.

Arizona came out swinging, tagging Peterson for a run in the first inning and four in the second.

The second-inning rally included an RBI single by Ketel Marte and a two-run double by Corbin Carroll — both of which came on Peterson’s first pitch of the at-bat.

And while Peterson settled in to retire 11 of his final 12 batters, it was too little, too late on an afternoon in which D-Backs starter Ryne Nelson stifled the Mets’ Juan Soto-less lineup.

Peterson was charged with five earned runs in five innings, allowing six hits and two walks with six strikeouts.

Two of those hits — including a first-inning bunt single — were infield knocks. But Arizona recorded eight batted balls with exit velocities of at least 95 mph against Peterson, including seven over the first two innings.

Peterson fell to 0-2 with a 6.14 ERA through three starts.

After hurling 5 1/3 scoreless innings in his season debut, Peterson has surrendered five earned runs in back-to-back starts. Last Thursday’s 7-2 defeat by the San Francisco Giants was the Mets’ previous loss.

Peterson was a first-time All-Star last year, but he struggled down the stretch, pitching to an 8.42 ERA over his final nine starts.

Sean Manaea, who remains in the bullpen as the Mets stick to a five-man rotation, tossed four innings in relief of Peterson, allowing two runs.

Both runs came on a bases-loaded double by Jorge Barrosa that clanked off of a retreating Luis Robert’s glove in center field.

Manaea’s velocity remained down, as his four-seam fastball averaged 88.8 mph on Wednesday after being 91.7 mph last year and 92.2 mph in 2025.

But Manaea has a 3.00 ERA over nine innings in relief this year. He allowed five hits and struck out two over 70 pitches on Wednesday.

Nelson limited the Mets to one run in 5.2 innings, striking out five. The Mets finally broke through against the right-hander in the bottom of the sixth, stringing together three hits, including a one-out RBI single by Brett Baty that made it a 5-1 game.

But Nelson struck out Mark Vientos for the second out, then gave way to reliever Ryan Thompson. Marcus Semien flew out against Thompson to end the inning, stranding two runners.

It was the Mets’ lowest offensive output — and first loss — since Soto left in the first inning of Friday’s game due to a right calf strain. Soto has since landed on the injured list.

Wednesday’s game was the second in a row in which the Mets moved up the start time by three hours to 4:10 p.m. due to cold, windy conditions.

With the three-game set now evened, the Mets will attempt to earn a series victory on Thursday night. Nolan McLean (1-0, 2.61 ERA) is set to start for the Mets, while left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (0.00 ERA through 12 innings) is lined up for Arizona.