All pitchers, and starters in particular, rely on routines. Four days rest is normal, and between-outing habits must be adjusted when a day of rest is added or subtracted. Which makes David Petersons postseason all the more impre sive. David Peterson lets out a celebratory yell after inducing a double play to get out of the seventh inning in the Mets NLDS-clinching win over the Phillies. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post The Mets lefty made 21 starts this season generally excellent, with a 2.90 ERA before taking on a new role as a big-time arm who can be deployed in any significant scenario. Boxed out by Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, Jose Quintana and a stretching-out Kodai Senga for playoff starts, Peterson instead has logged his first career save, taken down three excellent innings in Game 1 of the NLDS and shut down the Phillies in a potentially swing moment of the deciding Game 4. Explore More I can see why it would be a big deal. Deividas Sirvydis Jersey But for him, its not, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner said on the field as the Mets celebrated the clincher Wednesday at Citi Field. Hes treating it just like he always is. Hes prepared, hes got a plan, he knows what hes trying to do, and then it just becomes an execution game. Peterson is executing and not complaining, finding a different way to impre s in each game he appears. First Peterson, on three days rest, came out of the bullpen in the decisive game against the Brewers, replacing a tired Edwin Diaz and needing just eight pitches to record the final three outs. Two days later, Peterson watched Senga pitch two solid innings in Philadelphia and entered for the third. For three scorele s innings, the 29-year-old pitched around traffic (one hit, three walks) and made every big pitch he needed to in a victory that the Mets staff stitched together. The latest challenge for Peterson arrived Wednesday when he entered a game in the middle of an inning for the first time this season. Inheriting a two-on jam from Quintana and Reed Garrett in the sixth inning, Peterson needed just three pitches to get Bryson Stott to ground out and escape. In the playoffs, its a challenge whether its men on, no one out, starting whatever it is, Peterson said after delivering 2 / scorele s innings . Were fighting to continue our season. Follow The Posts coverage of the Mets playoff run: The Mets season continues in large part because a bullpen without a trusted lefty Danny Young has not pitched an inning in October has found one capable of getting big outs and a lot of outs. In all, Peterson has 6 / shutout innings in this years playoffs, a mid- or late-game weapon whom manager Carlos Mendoza is eager to use. As the Mets continue to stretch out Senga, who should be ready for three innings in his next outing, Peterson is the best bet to piggyback Sengas effort. The pairing was ideal in Philadelphia, and each pitcher complements the other well. Such a dynamic would not work if Petersons mind or body would not allow him to adjust to a different role on the fly as well as he has. Amid an up-and-down career, an excellent 2022 followed by a rough 2023 and hip surgery before a breakout 2024, Peterson has established himself as not just a solid option but a flexible one. Im so happy for him because its been not a super clean career, Hefner said. And to have these moments now, in back-to-back series, its really awesome. Khyri Thomas Jersey