The Mets looked to win their series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday as David Peterson took the mound.
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Heading into the game, Peterson had a 1.71 ERA and 3.17 FIP over his last five outings. His 50 percent ground ball rate during that time had been integral to his success.
On the season, he falls into the 91st percentile in that stat (52.7%), which has helped to mitigate the effects of his subpar 18.1 percent strikeout rate and 43.5 percent hard-hit rate.
One possible explanation for Peterson’s elite ground ball rate is his increased sinker usage, which has jumped from 25.3 percent last year to 31.8 percent this season. Several Mets pitchers including Sean Manaea and Phil Maton have also altered their pitch distribution this season with favorable results.
Peterson started off strong in the first inning, picking off Randal Grichuk with a deceptive move to first base to end the inning. This was his 14th time pulling off such an attempt in his career.
Grichuk would get his revenge in the bottom of the third, launching a two-run home run to give the Diamondbacks a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Peterson’s pickoff expertise would work to his advantage once again as he nabbed Jake McCarthy to end the inning.
Grichuk’s home run would be the only blip in Peterson’s otherwise solid outing, as he went on to complete seven innings with four strikeouts. This is the third-consecutive start in which he has pitched seven or more innings, showcasing his value to the team down the stretch.
Peterson’s slider was working particularly well for him in this start, generating three whiffs and six called strikes in 19 uses. The pitch has a 31.9 percent whiff rate this season, the highest of all his offerings.
The Mets would go on to take the series with a 3-2 win that was backed by their strong pitching.
Peterson commented on the mindset of the team as they navigate this final stretch of the season.
“We’ve talked all year about letting each day be its own thing,” Peterson said. “We win, we celebrate the little victory and move on.”
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