David Petersons succe s story this season doesnt revolve around developing a new pitch or changing much about his approach. Simply, the Mets left-hander is pain free. Its opposing teams that are feeling the pain instead. I think that has made the biggest difference, Peterson said Friday at Citi Field, referencing the left Daniel Lynch Iv Jersey hip labrum he had surgically repaired after last season. That subsequently has cleaned up some stuff all the way up the chain through my torso and upper body. The results have been beyond anything the Mets could have anticipated. Peterson, in 17 starts for the team this season, is 9-1 with a 2.75 ERA and only improving as the season has progre sed. David Peterson #23 of the New York Mets throws a pitch in the 5th inning on Sept. 3, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post His signature performance this year might have occurred Tuesday when he , allowing one earned run over six innings. The Mets have Sean Manaea and Luis Severino performing at ace-like levels and Jose Quintana enjoyed a midseason hot streak, but Peterson has been the steadiest rotation presence for a team that began the day tied with Atlanta for the National Leagues third wild-card spot. The more [Peterson] goes out there, I think he knows that he not only belongs in this league, but he can dominate, manager Carlos Mendoza said. Explore More Peterson bounced last season between Triple-A Syracuse and the Mets and the rotation and bullpen. He pitched to a 5.03 ERA in 27 appearances for the club and decided after the season it was time to addre s the hip that had caused him discomfort at various points. Rotating properly and without pain is the biggest thing, said Peterson, whose November surgery kept him rehabbing until late May. The metrics paint a different picture than somebody who has succeeded this season: Petersons percentile rankings on baseball savant are largely blue, denoting below average for a certain category. David Peterson (23) reacts after strikes out Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran (16) to get out of the fifth inning when the New York Mets played the Boston Red Sox Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at Citi Field. Robert Sabo for NY Post Those blue numbers (walk rate, strikeout rate, hard-hit ball rate, expected ERA, expected batting average) suggest a pitcher that has received his share of luck this season, a fact Peterson wont deny. But hes not about to apologize for his succe s. They obviously have a certain algorithm and scale that everything runs on and theres some truth to it, Peterson said. Theres probably some stuff where the numbers dont nece sarily align with the way I have been pitching and I dont take it too much to heart. Its stuff that I look at because its a good resource, but its not like I look at it and see a lot of blue and start freaking out because Im seeing myself go out there and do it every five days and that alone gives me the confidence. My stuff may not grade out well in their categories, but its getting guys out. Mets pitcher David Peterson (23) pitches in the first inning when the New York Mets played the Boston Red Sox Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at Citi Field in Queens, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post Among the differences in Petersons pitch usage from last season is an uptick in deploying the sinker (from 25.3 to 31.3 percent). The result has been an increase in ground-ball percentage one of the few red numbers that appears on his Statcast profile. Petersons ground-ball percentage of 52.8 ranks in MLBs 90th percentile. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! I have some stuff that lends to getting hit on the ground, whether its the sinker or the changeup, and then I think its just been the sequencing and our plan of attack with guys and knowing the right spots to get the ground ball when we need it, Peterson said. Petersons emergence means the Mets will have one le s headache this winter in building a rotation for next season. Severino and Quintana are headed to free agency and Manaea will almost certainly opt out from his contract. Peterson is under club control for another two seasons. I have still got some time left in terms of control and I love being here, Peterson said. I want to be in this rotation and pitch every fifth day for this team. Danny Jackson Jersey