The Mets face significant rotation issues after David Peterson's poor performance and Kodai Senga's injury. Both Peterson and Sean Manaea struggled in their recent starts, raising concerns about the team's pitching depth.
Key points
Mets entered 2026 season with healthy pitching staff
Kodai Senga on injured list with lumbar spine inflammation
David Peterson allowed seven earned runs in 3â innings
Sean Manaea gave up six earned runs in 2â innings
Mets
NEW YORK â As the Mets entered the 2026 season, they appeared to have an enviable problem.
The entire pitching staff was relatively healthy, leaving the Mets with quality depth and questions about a potential six-man rotation. A few promising arms lingered in Triple-A Syracuse.
But just one month into the campaign, Mets leadership is faced with the wrong type of conundrum with the back end of their rotation.
Amid his own rocky start, Kodai Senga landed on the injured list with lumbar spine inflammation on Tuesday. His timeline for recovery is unknown.
Two of the other options for the back end of the team's starting rotation did not present themselves particularly well on Wednesday night against the Nationals. In his return to the rotation, David Peterson was tagged for seven earned runs in 3â innings. Matters got worse for Sean Manaea, who allowed six earned runs in 2â innings.
"It's extremely frustrating knowing what I'm capable of and not being able to put it out there," Peterson said. "Go back, watch it, learn from it and move on and be better for the next one."
The demolition against Peterson and Manaea razed any momentum the Mets had picked up in an eight-run win on Tuesday. They were flattened 14-2 in the second game of the series on a saturated Wednesday night at Citi Field.
The thrashing sent the Mets back to 10 games under .500 at 10-20 . It clinched a losing nine-game homestand against the Twins, Rockies and Nationals; the Mets are 3-5 with the finale coming on Thursday afternoon.
David Peterson's dud
Apr 29, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher David Peterson (23) follows through on a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Q&A
What happened to Kodai Senga's health status?
Kodai Senga was placed on the injured list due to lumbar spine inflammation, with an unknown recovery timeline.
How did David Peterson perform in his recent game?
David Peterson allowed seven earned runs in just 3â innings during his return to the rotation against the Nationals.
What are the Mets' current concerns regarding their pitching rotation?
The Mets are worried about the back end of their rotation after poor performances from Peterson and Manaea, along with Senga's injury.
What impact does Sean Manaea's performance have on the Mets' rotation?
Sean Manaea's struggle, allowing six earned runs in 2â innings, adds to the Mets' rotation concerns as they seek reliable options.
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Apr 29, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher David Peterson (23) follows through on a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
It was a struggle right out of the gate for Peterson, who fell behind the opening two Nationals hitters 2-0 before giving up singles into right field.
That allowed the Nationals to take a 2-0 lead on an RBI single from CJ Abrams and a sharp groundball to Brett Baty at first base.
Peterson lost the zone in each of the Nationals' two big innings with three walks in the fourth, including a free pass with the bases loaded to open the door for the road side to break the game open with Brady House's grand slam off Manaea.
"I think it could be a multitude of things," Peterson said of losing the strike zone. "Tonight, I felt like I was a little quick at the beginning. Then towards the end, I felt like I might have gotten a little too rotational rather than straight down through my pitches."
The left-hander has struggled to find consistency out of the gate as a starting pitcher. He's now 0-4 with a 8.10 ERA as a starter compared to allowing one earned run in his seven relief innings.
A decision about the final rotation spot?
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) walks off the field after making a pitching change during the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals on April 29, 2026, at Citi Field.
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) walks off the field after making a pitching change during the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals on April 29, 2026, at Citi Field.
In the first inning of games this season, Peterson has allowed seven runs on nine hits and two walks, leaving Carlos Mendoza and the Mets front office with a choice about his future in the rotation.
"The stuff - he's got more than enough to compete in the strike zone," Mendoza said. "Just when he loses the feel for that, because we've seen that, that's kind of the frustrating part because he's got the stuff obviously but he's got to be able to do it consistently."
Last season, Peterson was the most dependable arm for the Mets early in the season. He earned an All-Star selection by going 6-4 with a 3.04 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 109 innings in the first half. He completed six innings in 10 of his first 17 starts. This season, he has not recorded more than 5â innings in a game
Mendoza said that he will meet with the pitching coaches and David Stearns to see how they plan to deploy Peterson moving forward.
"I've done it before, and I believe in myself, and I know I have the stuff to do it," Peterson said of his confidence that he can get right.
Sean Manaea's shaky stretch and Kodai Senga's health
New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) hands the ball to manager Carlos Mendoza (64) in front of first baseman Brett Baty (7) during a pitching change during the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals on April 29, 2026, at Citi Field.
New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) hands the ball to manager Carlos Mendoza (64) in front of first baseman Brett Baty (7) during a pitching change during the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals on April 29, 2026, at Citi Field.
Manaea would have been an option to shift from the bullpen to a starting role, but he has faced his own struggles.
It continued for the left-hander on Wednesday as he came on in the fourth, hit Curtis Mead with an errant sweeper with the bases loaded and left a belt-high fastball over the plate to House, who launched it over the left-field wall to move the Nationals ahead 9-1.
"He got hit today," Mendoza said.
Manaea gave up seven hits in 2â innings and needed 73 pitches to record eight outs. The left-hander has given up 12 runs across 10 innings in his last three relief appearances.
The Mets' back of the rotation is further complicated by Senga's absence. The right-hander, who opened with an 0-4 record and 9.00 ERA in five starts is on the 15-day injured list with lumbar spine inflammation and received an epidural injection on Tuesday.
"The outlook is a little difficult because I still need to go to the trainers and see how the body responds," Senga said through an interpreter. "Solely focused on getting back out there and being as productive as possible as soon as possible."
Christian Scott will make his second start of the season on Friday against the Angels after he only lasted 1â innings while allowing one earned run on five walks and a hit batter.
