David Peterson took the entire road trip last week without appearing at a Mets game, but he remains committed to the cause in his low-impact relief role.
“I see myself long-term as a starter,” Peterson said. “Right now, I’m in the bullpen and I’ll be ready to finish when I get the ball, and my whole goal is to help this team win as many games as possible.”
The lefty last pitched on May 31, when he tallied four runs against the Marlins and allowed one run. This was Peterson’s first outing after being removed from the loose relief role, where he was thrown behind the opener and replaced by Sean Mania.
Peterson, who has a 5.18 ERA, said he is in constant communication with the coaching staff about potential opportunities for him to pitch.
“I still feel comfortable getting to a number like 80 or 90 [pitches]”What they have in mind may be different, but I also think it depends on the situation: what the outing is going to look like, how long it is, and obviously that’s something we’ll have to monitor depending on the amount of work,” Peterson said.
AJ Ewing’s quick run into the gap Sunday to rob Xander Bogaerts in the eighth inning was just the latest highlight reel for the defensively gifted center fielder. Ewing reached across his body with an outstretched glove in stride to complete the catch.
Ewing and Carson Bing have combined to give the Mets elite defensive dynamism.
“I’ve been through it in Toronto a little bit with a great field and you don’t realize how many hits they take,” Bo Bichette said. “But it’s not just about their defense. The energy they bring, the excitement they bring to the plate is their first season in the big leagues, it’s good for all of us.”