David Peterson will have the chance to face Robbie Ray directly when the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants continue their three-game series on Saturday evening. This matchup marks the return from the All-Star break and features the Mets hosting the Giants in a contest highlighted by two notable left-handed pitchers.

Mets Command Series Opener with Strong Offensive Performance

On Friday night, Francisco Lindor provided a significant boost by hitting his 20th home run of the season. The top four batters in the Mets’ lineup combined to deliver seven hits, six RBIs, and four runs, propelling New York to an 8-1 victory over the Giants. This strong start set the tone for the series and illustrated the Mets’ offensive depth.

Peterson’s Unexpected All-Star Invitation and Return to Form

David Peterson entered the All-Star break with a 6-4 record and a 2.90 ERA, initially expecting to watch the game from home. However, when the Giants chose Robbie Ray to start the Sunday game before the All-Star event, Peterson was called up to take Ray’s spot on the roster. Peterson followed teammate Logan Webb on the mound, delivering a scoreless inning that contributed to the National League’s winning effort in the 6-6 game.

Continuing his strong season, Peterson pitched his first start after the break against the Cincinnati Reds, holding them to one unearned run over six innings in a 3-2 Giants win. This performance confirmed Peterson’s recovery from surgery on a torn labrum in his left hip, which had delayed his 2024 season start until May 29. He has now pitched 115 innings this year, not counting his All-Star inning.

For me after the surgery, it was just getting back to being healthy, getting used to the new range of motion and all that came with the surgery,

Peterson said before the break.

It was nice to have a full, regular off-season (leading into the 2025 season) to work on my strength and get that back. It’s been good. It’s kind of what I’ve always thought was in there.

—David Peterson, Pitcher

Challenges Facing the Giants’ Pitching Staff

Friday’s starters—Mets’ Clay Holmes and Giants’ Logan Webb—failed to last deep into the game, working just five and four innings respectively. This limited outing places additional strain on Giants’ bullpen, especially since the team has recently lost two starting pitchers. Hayden Birdsong was sent to the minors after struggling, and Landen Roupp was placed on the 15-day injured list with a sore elbow.

For Sunday’s game, the Giants have already declared it a bullpen day to manage the reduced pitching resources. Manager Bob Melvin expressed frustration but remained hopeful about the available options in their Triple-A system.

Look, it feels like every team goes through it, and sometimes when it rains, it pours a little bit,

Melvin told reporters before Friday’s game.

We do have some guys we like in Triple-A as far as the depth goes, so we’ll see where that goes — and we’ll see what the deadline brings.

—Bob Melvin, Giants Manager

Robbie Ray’s Track Record Against the Mets Adds Drama to the Duel

Robbie Ray, the Giants’ left-hander, entered the All-Star break with a 9-4 record and a 2.92 ERA, despite a recent poor outing against the Toronto Blue Jays where he allowed five runs over 4 1/3 innings. Ray’s history against the Mets is notable, carrying a 4-1 record and a 3.48 ERA in seven starts, lending added intrigue to his Saturday appearance.

What the Mets-Giants Series Means Moving Forward

This confrontation between Peterson and Ray not only spotlights two pitchers with All-Star credentials but also underscores key pitching challenges for the Giants. The outcome of this series could heavily influence each team’s momentum as they head further into the season. With San Francisco’s bullpen depth strained and New York’s offense firing, these games carry significant weight in the National League standings.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. What is Robbie Ray’s walk rate?

A. Ray has been effective despite a somewhat high walk rate of 3.6 per nine innings. His current stats include a 2.68 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and a 97:35 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 87.1 innings in 15 games. His next game is expected to be against the Red Sox at home this weekend.