New Cubs pitcher Peterson will put change of scenery to test vs. Brewers
MILWAUKEE — The Cubs have been saying a change of scenery might be good for left-hander David Peterson after a long run with the Mets.
That's easy for them to say, but Peterson was the one who spent Thursday packing up his home on Long Island before jumping on the Cubs charter flight to Milwaukee.
Manager Craig Counsell confirmed Peterson, acquired in a trade for minor-leaguer Cole Mathis late Wednesday, will start against the Brewers on Saturday. As Peterson was activated, the reliever Phil Maton went back on the injured list in another effort to address tendinitis in his right knee.
Speaking in the visitor's dugout before Friday's game, Peterson said he never sat around Citi Field thinking a change of scenery might help his 6.09 ERA.
“But I do think there is something to that,” Peterson said. “I've seen it with other guys. I've seen it with friends in the game where they're kind of stuck in a rut or stuck in a spot that they're not necessarily enjoying, and they've gone somewhere else and had a lot of success.
“So I think that's part of what gives me excitement about this opportunity, with also joining a great team and excited to play for Counsell.”
Another factor the Cubs are pushing is Peterson's 51% groundball rate. As the Cubs just saw during a four-game sweep in New York, the Mets' infield defense has not been solid. Maybe he'll fare better with the Cubs infield playing behind him.
“I think it's huge,” Peterson said. “It's hard not to be excited about that group.”
Peterson's best season was 2024, when he produced a 10-3 record and 2.90 ERA. He was an All-Star last season, then was removed from the Mets rotation after eight starts this year. Now wearing a new uniform, he thinks he's ready to roll.
“I went through some things early in the year that we needed to clean up and felt a lot better about where we're at now,” Peterson said. “I feel like myself back in '24, '25, so I'm excited for the opportunity to start (Saturday), and kind of get the routine back to more consistency. I feel good with where I'm at right now.”
The 6-foot-6 Peterson is a Denver-area native, a first-round draft pick in 2017 out of Oregon. He used to play against Nico Hoerner in the Pac-12, and he said Michael Conforto was sort of a big brother when he was called up by the Mets in 2020.
As one would expect from a groundball pitcher, the sinker is Peterson's most frequent pitch and averages 92.1 mph. He'll use a slider and four-seam pretty equally, then mix in a curve and change. The slider has been the most effective pitch this season.
Counsell said with Maton, the goal is to give him through the all-star break to try to get his knee healthy, in hopes of a better second half. The most expensive addition to the bullpen during the offseason has been disappointing, with a 6.08 ERA.
Counsell thinks there's a chance Jameson Taillon (left hamstring strain) could return for maybe one start before the break. The right-hander threw a multi-inning bullpen Friday and felt good.