Every pitching staff needs a workhorse, and that's what David Peterson has become for the New York Mets. Coming off his first good season as a starter last year, it was hard to know what to expect from Peterson in this volatile Mets rotation.

The Mets kept their push for a Wild Card spot rolling Tuesday night, blasting the Nationals 8-1 behind a dominant David Peterson and another long ball from Mark

It’s no secret that Peterson, of all the Mets’ starters, has been the guy relied upon to pitch deep. This was the 16th time in 24 starts that Peterson has finished at least six innings; the rest of the rotation has done it 18 times in 101 tries. It’s the eighth time a Mets starter has finished seven or more innings; Peterson owns six of those.

The Nationals survived the first of four consecutive series against playoff contenders from Philadelphia and New York, splitting their four-game series with the Phillies. Next up, it’s the Mets, who come to town in a bit of a tailspin,