When the New York Mets begin play on Thursday, March 26, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Opening Day lineup will feature a veteran right-hander making his team debut.
Manager Carlos Mendoza shared in a clip posted by the team’s X account on Friday, February 27, that Freddy Peralta would get the ball in the first game of the season. The 29-year-old righty was acquired in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers that sent prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams the other way.
Peralta will make a debut of another kind on Friday, taking on the St. Louis Cardinals in his first outing of Spring Training. The lineup also features top outfield prospect Carson Benge in the leadoff spot, followed by National League MVP candidate Juan Soto.
New York Mets Opening Day Lineup to Feature Freddy Peralta on the Mound
It’ll be the third consecutive Opening Day start for Peralta. He got the ball in 2024 against his new team, holding the New York Mets to one earned run over six innings to secure the victory. Peralta also kicked off the 2025 campaign for the Brewers, drawing the start against the New York Yankees. That outing didn’t go as smoothly, with Peralta giving up a pair of solo home runs in the first two innings, but he settled in for five solid innings. New teammate Devin Williams picked up the save for the Yankees in that contest.
Peralta has spent his entire eight-year MLB career with Milwaukee. He first made his debut in 2018. After a few seasons spent bouncing between the starting rotation and the bullpen, Peralta emerged as one of the top starters on a perennial contender in the National League. He’s delivered a sub-4.00 ERA in every year since becoming a full-time starter. The veteran has picked up a pair of All-Star selections. He finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting last season on the strength of a 2.70 ERA and a league-leading 17 wins.
With Peralta heading into the final season of team control, the Brewers moved on before losing him to free agency. The righty is on an extremely affordable $8 million club option. He’ll be one of the most desirable pitchers on the free agent market in 2027.
Who Will Join Peralta in the Opening Day Lineup?
Soto will remain the star of the show, but New York’s lineup will look significantly different heading into the 2026 season. Longtime staples Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo have departed, via free agency and trade, respectively. Jeff McNeil also found a new home, as did trade deadline acquisition Cedric Mullins. The Mets’ big swing in free agency was handing Bo Bichette a three-year, $126 million deal to play third base. Marcus Semien came back in the Nimmo swap to handle second base. Free agent Jorge Polanco will step into Alonso’s spot at first base.
The outfield features one holdover, but he’s switching positions. Soto is sliding over to the left field spot vacated by Nimmo. The Mets landed Luis Robert Jr. in a trade with the Chicago White Sox. He’ll handle center field duties. The clear position battle in Spring Training is for the right field job. Benge is trying to hold off Tyrone Taylor and Bretty Baty.
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