Mets to Start Freddy Peralta on Opening Day Against Pirates

The New York Mets are set to hand the ball to their newly acquired ace, Freddy Peralta, for the season opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26. This decision comes after the Mets traded two prospects to the Milwaukee Brewers last month to secure the two-time All-Star’s services.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expressed his enthusiasm for Peralta’s role in the team’s rotation, stating, “When we acquired him, it was pretty clear that he was going to be pitching at the front of our rotation. He earned it. I’m excited. We’re all excited.” This excitement was palpable as Peralta struck out three batters in three innings during a recent spring training game against St. Louis.

At 29 years old, Peralta brings a much-needed frontline presence to the Mets, who are looking to rebound after a challenging second half of the 2025 season. In addition to Peralta, the Mets have bolstered their roster by signing free agent infielder Bo Bichette and acquiring center fielder Luis Robert Jr. in a trade with the Chicago White Sox.

Last season, Peralta showcased his skills with an impressive record of 17-6 and a 2.70 ERA across 33 starts, leading the National League in wins and finishing fifth in the Cy Young Award voting. He also recorded 204 strikeouts in 176 2/3 innings, earning his second All-Star selection.

Peralta is set to earn $8 million this season, with the possibility of hitting the free-agent market following the World Series. Over his eight-year career with the Brewers, he has amassed a record of 70-42, a 3.59 ERA, and 1,153 strikeouts in 931 innings pitched.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.