Mets tap Freddy Peralta to take the ball on Opening Day, March 26, against the Pirates
- SPORTS
Friday, February 27, 2026 6:03 PM
JUPITER, Fla. — The New York Mets are set to introduce their fresh ace, Freddy Peralta, by starting him on Opening Day versus Pittsburgh.
New York traded two prospects to Milwaukee last month to bring in the two-time All-Star.
“When we acquired him, it was pretty clear that he would anchor the front of our rotation,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday before a spring training matchup with St. Louis. “He earned it. I’m excited. We’re all excited.”
The Mets host the opener on March 26.
Peralta, 29, provides a true frontline starter after a turbulent second half to the 2025 season for a revamped Mets rotation. The club also bolstered its lineup with free-agent infielder Bo Bichette and added center fielder Luis Robert Jr. in a trade with the Chicago White Sox.
Last season, Peralta went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA over 33 starts, leading the National League in wins and finishing fifth in Cy Young voting. He punched out 204 batters across 176 2/3 innings and earned his second All-Star nod.
He’s slated to earn $8 million this year and can reach free agency after the World Series. Across eight major-league seasons, all with Milwaukee, Peralta owns a 70-42 record, a 3.59 ERA, and 1,153 strikeouts in 931 innings.
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