The New York Mets might be closer to a six-man rotation than people realize — and Freddy Peralta could be the sneaky reason why it works.
Oct 14, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) throws pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning during game two of the NLCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Nothing is officially confirmed. The Mets haven’t come out and said, “Yes, we’re running six starters in 2026.” But as spring training approaches, the roster construction is starting to make it feel more realistic than just a backup plan for injuries.
Because the truth is simple: the Mets have multiple starters who would benefit from extra rest — and the numbers suggest Peralta might actually become even more dominant with it.
The Mets have plenty of reasons to consider a six-man rotation
If the Mets go six-deep, it wouldn’t be some trendy experiment. It would be a strategy designed to keep their rotation intact over a long season — and maybe maximize the effectiveness of pitchers who have very specific needs.
Kodai Senga is the obvious candidate. He’s shown he can be elite, but the Mets have also been careful with his workload and recovery. Giving him an extra day between starts could keep him healthier and sharper.
Sean Manaea also fits the mold, coming off injury trouble last year. There’s no reason to push him harder than necessary if the Mets want him to be a key contributor in October.
Then there’s Clay Holmes, who is transitioning back into a starter role. That alone is a workload adjustment, and extra rest could make the difference between “solid experiment” and “season-long success.”
David Peterson has shown signs of mid-season fatigue in the past, and Nolan McLean is the young arm you absolutely do not want to overextend. If the Mets see McLean as part of their long-term core, they’ll want to protect him early.
So yes, the Mets have multiple pitchers who scream “six-man rotation candidate.”
But Peralta? That’s where things get interesting.
Freddy Peralta doesn’t need extra rest… but he might be better with it
Peralta isn’t the type of pitcher fans normally think of when discussing fatigue management. He’s in his prime, built up innings over the years, and has shown the ability to take the ball consistently.
That said, his rest-day splits from last season paint a fascinating picture.
In 12 starts on the traditional four days of rest, Peralta posted a 2.59 ERA — the best of the bunch. But the slash line against him suggests he might’ve been a bit fortunate.
Opponents hit:
.235/.317/.329
That’s not terrible, but it’s also not the kind of domination you’d expect from a true ace at peak form.
Now compare that to what happened when he had five days of rest — the type of schedule he’d see more often in a six-man rotation.
In 17 starts with five days of rest, Peralta posted a 2.65 ERA (nearly identical)… but the hitters looked completely overmatched:
Opponents hit:
.170/.257/.339
That’s a massive drop in batting average and on-base percentage. Even better? His strikeout rate jumped significantly, climbing to 11.4 K/9, compared to roughly one strikeout per inning on shorter rest.
In other words: the ERA stayed almost the same, but the underlying dominance got way scarier.
Even in four starts with six or more days of rest, Peralta’s ERA rose to 3.22 — but again, the slash line shows he was still controlling hitters:
Opponents hit:
.165/.239/.266
So even when the runs didn’t perfectly cooperate, the stuff and command still played at a high level.
The Brewers already hinted at the blueprint
This isn’t just a random stat exercise either.
Down the stretch in 2025, the Milwaukee Brewers clearly leaned toward giving Peralta extra rest. As the season progressed, they spaced out his starts so he had five or more days between outings almost every time in August and September.
And in the one start where he only had four days of rest during that stretch? He still threw five shutout innings.
Peralta doesn’t need to be protected like a fragile arm — but the evidence suggests he might thrive when the Mets avoid grinding him down.
The Mets won’t choose six-man because of Peralta… but he strengthens the case
Realistically, the Mets aren’t building their rotation plan around Peralta’s preferences.
They’ll make the decision based on:
- keeping Senga healthy
- managing Manaea and Holmes
- avoiding burnout with Peterson
- protecting McLean
But the bonus is this: Peralta looks like a pitcher who can become even more “ace-like” with the same schedule.
Now 931 innings into his MLB career, Peralta is right in the heart of his prime. If the Mets want the best version of him in 2026 — the one that misses bats, limits base runners, and looks untouchable in big moments — giving him an extra day could be one of the smartest ways to do it.
And if the Mets are serious about contending, maximizing your top arms isn’t optional.
It’s the whole point.
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