Freddy Peralta vs. Paul Skenes headlines Mets-Pirates opener

The New York Mets were expected to overhaul their roster following a disappointing 2025.

The Pittsburgh Pirates responding to their latest sub-.500 finish in similar fashion qualified as a far bigger surprise.

A pair of retooled teams will open the season Thursday afternoon when the Mets host the Pirates.

Freddy Peralta (17-6, 2.70 ERA with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2025) is slated to make his Mets debut against reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes (10-10, 1.97 ERA) in an enticing matchup of aces.

The Mets finished 83-79 and were eliminated from playoff contention on the final day last season after having the best record in baseball through June 13 before a slow-motion collapse.

The Pirates went 71-91 -- their seventh straight losing season and their fifth last-place finish in the NL Central during that stretch.

Peralta, acquired from the Brewers in a four-player trade in January, is expected to be one of six newcomers in the starting lineup on Opening Day for the Mets, who traded franchise mainstays Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo while allowing Pete Alonso, the team's all-time home run leader, to exit as a free agent.

McNeil and Nimmo will be replaced at second base and in the outfield by Marcus Semien and rookie Carson Benge, respectively. Semien was acquired from the Texas Rangers for Nimmo on Nov. 24. Jorge Polanco, who has played one big league inning at first base, signed a two-year deal to take the spot of Alonso.

Bo Bichette, who spent the first seven years of his career playing shortstop for the Toronto Blue Jays, signed as a free agent with the Mets and will move to third base, which shifts Brett Baty to a designated hitter/utilityman role. Luis Robert Jr., who has been limited to 210 games over the last two years due to injury, was acquired from the Chicago White Sox to play center field.

The Mets also will have a revamped bullpen led by Devin Williams, who signed a three-year deal just days before incumbent closer Edwin Diaz left for the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I think guys are getting after it, and that's been good to see," Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said. "I think we have a group that is actively trying to get better every single day -- and that could be somewhat unique with a team full of veterans. That's not often the case. A lot of times, you come to spring training with a veteran team and everyone's really just got Opening Day circled."

A start by Skenes -- the first pitcher to win the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award in consecutive seasons since Dwight Gooden did it with the Mets in 1984-85 -- is circled by just about everyone.

But the Pirates, who haven't appeared in the playoffs since losing the NL wild-card game in 2015, made a spate of moves this winter in hopes of returning to contention and relevance.

The Pirates, who finished last in the majors with 583 runs last season, bolstered their offense by acquiring Brandon Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays and signing free agents Ryan O'Hearn and Marcell Ozuna. Lowe and Ozuna each have a pair of 30-homer seasons on their resumes, while O'Hearn hit a career-high 17 home runs last season for the Orioles and San Diego Padres.

Pittsburgh also hopes for a bounce-back season from right fielder Bryan Reynolds, whose 16 homers and .720 OPS last year were his lowest full-season totals, and for a long-awaited breakout from center fielder Oneil Cruz, who shared the NL lead with 38 stolen bases last year but ranked last among qualified batters with a .200 batting average. Cruz hit two homers apiece this spring for the Pirates and the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

The Pirates also have the game's consensus top prospect in shortstop Konnor Griffin, who nearly made the Opening Day roster as a 19-year-old before he was sent to Triple-A Indianapolis earlier this week.

"We know what's at stake," Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said. "We know that we want to and need to deliver to our fans -- our fans in Pittsburgh -- at a higher level than we have. We're motivated to do that."

Peralta, who led the NL in wins last season, is 4-2 with a 3.36 ERA in 25 career games (16 starts) against the Pirates. Skenes is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two starts against the Mets.

--Field Level Media