New York Mets name Freddy Peralta their Opening Day starter

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/peralta-freddy/CO668wh7/"]Peralta[/a], 29, who was acquired in a trade with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/milwaukee-brewers/CGzqC60o/"]Milwaukee Brewers[/a] this past offseason, will be on the mound for the team's first game of the season on March 26th when they take on the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/pittsburgh-pirates/tr9K2SqG/"]Pittsburgh Pirates[/a]. [/p][embed guid="e69c74e2-51ba-4b68-bb94-ecda65b176f5" url="https://x.com/Mets/status/2027521035097067623?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-mets/I5wWW4UM/"]Mets[/a]' new starter has thrown three no-hit innings this Spring Training with no walks and three strikeouts.[/p][p]The Mets gave up their No. 3 prospect [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/williams-jett/KvS1LL7r/"]Jett Williams[/a] (MLB No. 30) and No. 5 prospect [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sproat-brandon/KSBJ7i6s/"]Brandon Sproat[/a] in exchange for the ace pitcher. Peralta is coming off the best season of his career, tossing a career-low 2.70 earned run average, while striking out 204 batters in 176.2 innings. [/p][p]His 1.075 WHIP is also the lowest of his career when he finishes a season with 30+ starts and has now finished back-to-back seasons with exactly a 10.4 strikeout per nine innings average. [/p][p]He earned his second All-Star selection last season and finished fifth in the National League Cy Young voting. [/p][embed guid="6188c7ee-85a5-40c3-8ce0-48051235c27a" url="https://x.com/MLB/status/2027471102247612534?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]In 2025, the Mets' starting rotation ranked 18th in ERA (4.13), 20th in strikeouts (766), 9th in hits (747), and gave up the third-most walks (324). Now, with Peralta, the Mets hope the true ace can be just what they need at the head of their rotation. [/p][p]New York missed the playoffs last season after finishing with an 83-79 record.[/p]