Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta to start March 26 opener against Pirates

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) - The New York Mets plan to put newly acquired ace Freddy Peralta on the mound against Pittsburgh on opening day.

New York traded two prospects to Milwaukee last month for the two-time All-Star.

"When we acquired him, it was pretty clear that he was going to be pitching at the front of our rotation," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday before Peralta had three strikeouts in three innings against St. Louis in a spring training game. "He earned it. I'm excited. We're all excited."

New York opens March 26 at home.

After the Mets beat the Cardinals 14-3, Mendoza revealed infielder Grae Kessinger has knee discomfort.

"We're going to get some imaging done and we'll see what we're dealing with," the manager said. "It didn't look too good."

The 29-year-old Peralta gives the new-look Mets a frontline starter after their rotation struggled in the second half of a disappointing 2025 season. They also signed free agent infielder Bo Bichette and acquired center fielder Luis Robert Jr. in a trade with the Chicago White Sox.

Peralta was 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA in 33 starts last season, when he led the National League in wins and finished fifth in Cy Young Award voting. He struck out 204 in 176 2/3 innings and earned his second All-Star selection.

The right-hander is set to make $8 million this season and can become a free agent following the World Series. He is 70-42 with a 3.59 ERA and 1,153 strikeouts in 931 innings over eight major league seasons, all with Milwaukee.