In between Yoenis Cespedes not displaying up and afterwards opting out of the time, and the Mets offense remaining inept, it was a different darkish day in Atlanta for Luis Rojas’ group.

There was just one ray of sunshine trying to peek via the storm clouds, having said that.

Rookie still left-hander David Peterson sent his 2nd sturdy outing to commence his huge-league occupation, limiting the Braves to a few operates on five hits in six excellent innings when striking out eight in a 4- reduction.

“He threw a heck of a game for us once once again, commanding all his pitches, attacking fellas, currently being challenging in rough predicaments,” Rojas mentioned over Zoom after his group misplaced its fifth straight game.

Right after allowing two runs in excess of 5 ²/₃ innings in his debut in opposition to the Purple Sox when he pitched with a massive direct, Peterson had to function from behind this time, in aspect due to a mental oversight by Jeff McNeil. In the third inning, with second and third and nobody out, Adeiny Hechavarria grounded out to McNeil at 3rd. McNeil right away threw household in its place of running at Adam Duvall, the runner at 3rd. It enabled Duvall to return to the base securely. Peterson walked Ronald Acuna Jr. with the bases loaded to pressure in the game’s very first run. There were still no outs, but Peterson struck out Dansby Swanson, received Freddie Freeman to ground out to plate one more and also retired Marcell Ozuna to prevent a huge inning.

“Even although that operate arrived in, I nonetheless experienced a occupation to do to get us out of that inning,” Peterson explained. “For me, that is what it is all about, taking that split and get back on the mound and get us out of that inning.”

In the fourth, Johan Camargo took Peterson deep, but that was all the damage that would be accomplished. Compared to the outing versus the Purple Sox when Peterson only fanned a few, he struck out eight on Sunday, frequently making use of his put-away slider.

“I felt fantastic with all my pitches,” he claimed. “All four pitches I was comfortable with these days.”

With Peterson impressing so significantly, it could make a challenging selection for the Mets. He’s out-pitched veteran newcomers Michael Wacha and Rick Porcello, just about every of whom have thrown in a clunker so far. In truth, through two turns in the rotation, only Jacob deGrom (two) and Steven Matz (4) have allowed much less operates than Peterson (five). When Marcus Stroman (still left calf tear) is completely ready to return, and he threw four innings towards are living hitters on Friday at the alternate schooling web site in Brooklyn, a decision will have to be manufactured.

“We’ll have to see wherever we’re at,” Rojas mentioned. “Right now, he’s our fifth starter.”

He’s pitched more like their No. 3 so considerably.