The New York Mets will hand the ball to their newest frontline starter to begin the 2026 campaign.
Manager Carlos Mendoza announced Friday that right-hander Freddy Peralta will start Opening Day on March 26, when the Mets host the Pittsburgh Pirates in a Thursday afternoon matchup.
The veteran pitcher is coming off a standout 2025 season with the Milwaukee Brewers in which he paced the National League with 17 victories while posting a career-low 2.70 ERA. A two-time All-Star, Peralta was acquired to strengthen a rotation that became a top organizational priority during the winter.
Peralta is expected to anchor a starting staff featuring emerging right-hander Nolan McLean alongside veterans Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga and David Peterson.Â
His addition headlined an active offseason for the Mets, who also reshaped their lineup by bringing in Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, and Bo Bichette.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].