New York Mets Injury Update: David Peterson

With several key players currently on the injured list, such as pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Tomas Nido, the Mets must rely on a variety of replacements in order to remain in contention this year. This could significantly impede their chances for making the postseason this year.

One of those replacements is lefty starter David Peterson. He started off the spring on a high note, throwing two scoreless innings and striking out three in his first Grapefruit League appearance.

1. Shoulder Injury

The Mets have placed lefty starter David Peterson on the injured list with a shoulder injury, according to Tim Healey of Newsday. The 24-year-old is not expected to make his scheduled start against the Marlins on Tuesday, according to Healey.

The Mets face a difficult decision with their starting rotation, as Taijuan Walker continues to recover from his shoulder injury and Jacob deGrom has been replaced in the lineup by Tylor Megill. It could prove costly for them in the long run.

Fortunately for the Mets, they have several viable options to fill any rotation gaps. One possibility is inserting a sixth or seventh starter for extended stretches without much rest - which could potentially include Megill and Peterson this season.

Peterson can provide the Mets with some much-needed stability in their rotation, which has seen plenty of injuries recently. That is why it's crucial for them to monitor Peterson's fastball command and how he approaches hitters with his slider.

That has been evident in his Spring Training outings so far, and it also helped him earn his first big league victory last week against the Nationals. He's demonstrated excellent control of his fastball, using it effectively for strikes on both sides of the plate.

Rojas indicated that shoulder fatigue has been an issue since his most recent start against the Nationals, so the Mets decided to place him on the injured list.

Team management will wait until he becomes eligible or shortly thereafter to determine if he's ready to pitch again, though that won't likely occur for several weeks.

Peterson's best chance at returning is taking the mound in the bullpen and seeing how he feels. He's been a highly effective pitcher when in the bullpen in the past, so once fully healthy again could make for an excellent starter.

The Mets should be able to add a quality starter to their rotation if they make the right moves this offseason. This could include considering offers for Carlos Carrasco or freeing up some payroll in order to address bullpen and outfield depth concerns.

2. Foot Injury

On Saturday, the Mets placed LHP David Peterson on the 60-day injured list with a Jones fracture of his right fifth metatarsal. This injury occurred as Peterson was walking towards the clubhouse and will require surgery and keep him off the field for up to six weeks.

On top of all that, Joey Lucchesi, Carlos Carrasco and Noah Syndergaard have all been placed on the injured list with spot starter Robert Stock being declared out for the season. That left just three healthy starters remaining on their roster as of Friday; though that number could increase if Rich Hill is acquired.

Peterson's status isn't expected to affect his Opening Day plans with the Mets, as he's been named their sixth starter this year. Last season, Peterson made 19 starts and posted a 3.44 ERA, 4.08 FIP, and 1.22 WHIP.

He has a history of good control, which will enable him to limit walks when healthy. Furthermore, his strikeout rate has been impressive--an average of 19.5% throughout his minor-league career.

He's certain to be an important piece of the Mets' long-term rotation, regardless of what path they take. Additionally, streaming formats could benefit from his skillset as Citi Field provides him with a great venue to pitch.

Peterson's X-rays on his left foot came back negative, so he will now undergo a CT scan to pinpoint the precise nature of his injury. He was hit by a comebacker during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Miami Marlins and will receive an official update later this week regarding his health status.

Manager Buck Showalter noted after the game that Peterson's X-rays were inconclusive and they wanted more information, so he underwent a CT scan today. He should know the results of that exam after Sunday's spring training game and be ready to pitch again when the regular season resumes.

The Mets' other pitchers are not far behind either; Jose Quintana underwent an X-ray today and is listed as day-to-day. Once Tylor Megill, Joey Lucchesi and Robert Stock have filled their spots in the rotation, Quintana will likely return to action.

3. Wrist Injury

The New York Mets' rotation is in a precarious state of flux after injuries curtailed the seasons of Jacob deGrom and Peterson. While they've managed to patch things together with depth pieces like Joey Lucchesi and Noah Syndergaard, losing Peterson for the remainder of this season will be a huge blow.

The Mets may need to turn to either rookie Tylor Megill or David Peterson for a starting spot in the rotation. Both players were originally first-round picks, with Megill having had more recent success at Triple-A level than Peterson has.

Peterson has been a dominant pitcher in his brief Major League experience, posting a 2.91 ERA over 21 2/3 innings. In his first year as a starter, he hasn't allowed any earned runs and struck out an impressive number of batters while walking just three.

He boasts a fastball that sits around 90 mph, which he works hard to command effectively and keep hitters off the plate. Furthermore, his sharp changeup is developing into another effective pitch for keeping batters off balance.

If he can get those two pitches to cooperate, we could see the lefty make some quality starts this year. He's an attractive option for streamers in matches against teams with low averages against left-handers; his 2-1 record and 4.05 ERA across seven starts this season suggest he could improve upon those numbers as the season progresses.

Last time out, he faced off against the Arizona Diamondbacks and allowed four runs over five innings while striking out nine. While he has pitched well against the Mets in the past, expect him to struggle against the Giants on Monday night.

The Mets may be tempted to pass on this one, but he's already proven his potential in the minors and can be an effective major league starter. Though still raw, there's hope that with time he will progress and become an even more valuable part of their rotation.

4. Back Injury

David Peterson hasn't been able to deliver the consistency the Mets require from his rotation this season, starting just 16 games and pitching from the bullpen four times. Additionally, he's had another half-dozen stints in the minors.

No matter their injury history, the New York Mets have kept him as their rotation starter. His presence has been invaluable as injury has struck some of their top starters such as Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Yoenis Cespedes.

The Mets' schedule is packed with challenging opponents, and Peterson is expected to get plenty of starts in the early part of the season. That makes it even more crucial that he's healthy and ready to pitch.

On Saturday, he pitched two scoreless innings while holding the Miami Marlins to just one run on two hits and two walks. It marked his third Grapefruit League start this year and manager Buck Showalter has given him the nod in each one.

Peterson was struck by a groundball during his outing, and after the game he underwent X-rays and a CT scan. The results of that imaging will be released later on Sunday afternoon.

Peterson was still feeling sore from his last outing, but is expected to be ready for the next one. Therefore, he could potentially return as early as Friday night against the Cubs.

Assuming the Mets stay healthy and Peterson can return by the end of August, he could be an effective back-end rotation player. Additionally, Peterson could potentially move to the bullpen when needed as they lack depth at that position.

Peterson should make the switch to the bullpen as soon as possible in order for the Mets' rotation members to stay healthy. This move could be especially crucial if their injuries continue to sideline some of their top starters.