The 2025 season felt like a fever dream for anyone following the National League, especially when you look at how the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks clashed throughout the year. Honestly, if you told a Mets fan in 2024 that their rotation would eventually be led by a reliever-turned-starter like Clay Holmes, they’d have probably asked you to check your temperature. But that’s exactly where we landed.
The Mets vs Diamondbacks 2025 series wasn't just another set of games on the calendar. It was a weird, high-stakes battle between two teams that basically spent the whole year trying to outrun their own injury reports.
The Weird Reality of the 2025 Rotations
Let’s get into the pitching, because that’s where things got truly bizarre. Arizona went all-in by snagging Corbin Burnes from the Orioles, creating what looked like a "super-rotation" alongside Zac Gallen. On paper, it was terrifying. In reality? The baseball gods are cruel. Burnes ended up on the 60-day IL by June with elbow inflammation, a massive blow that forced Arizona to lean heavily on Brandon Pfaadt and Merrill Kelly.
Meanwhile, in Queens, the Mets were doing their usual "Mets things."
They started the year with Juan Soto in the lineup—which still feels surreal to see in blue and orange—but the pitching was a total jigsaw puzzle. Kodai Senga’s health was a constant "will-he-won't-he" drama. Because of that, David Peterson actually became the guy they relied on most. It’s funny, Peterson was the guy everyone was skeptical about in spring training, yet he ended up being the one keeping the ship afloat while Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas dealt with their own stints on the shelf.
Breaking Down the Head-to-Head
When these two teams actually stepped onto the grass, the games were tight. They ended the 2025 season series with a 3-3 split. Sorta poetic, right? Neither team could really get the upper hand.
The first meeting at Citi Field in early April was chilly and weird. Arizona took two out of three in Flushing, including a frustrating 4-2 loss where the Mets' bats just went silent against Merrill Kelly. But when the scene shifted to Chase Field in May, the Mets returned the favor.
May 6, 2025: The Peterson Masterclass
One game stands out. It was a Tuesday night in Phoenix. David Peterson went up against Zac Gallen. At the time, Gallen was struggling with a nearly 5.00 ERA, and Peterson was pitching like a man possessed.
- Final Score: Mets 5, Diamondbacks 1.
- The Hero: Peterson went seven strong innings, giving up only one run.
- The Bat: Pete Alonso crushed a late-inning home run to put it out of reach.
It was one of those games that made you think the Mets had finally figured it out. Of course, this is baseball, so "figuring it out" usually lasts about forty-eight hours.
The Josh Naylor vs. Pete Alonso Factor
Arizona made a huge move by replacing Christian Walker with Josh Naylor. Naylor brought a different kind of energy to that clubhouse—way more aggressive, way more "in your face." Watching him and Pete Alonso trade bombs during the May series was worth the price of admission alone.
Naylor ended up being the anchor Arizona needed when Corbin Carroll was going through his inevitable sophomore-plus slumps. Carroll is still a superstar, don't get me wrong, but 2025 was a year of adjustments for him. He was seeing a steady diet of high-velocity stuff that he had to learn to spoil.
On the other side, Francisco Lindor continued to be the heartbeat of the Mets. Even with Soto drawing all the headlines and the massive contracts, Lindor was the one making the sliding stops in the 8th inning to save a lead.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Rivalry
People tend to focus on the big names, but the 2025 matchups were decided by the bullpens. Specifically, how much stress they were under. Arizona’s bullpen was a revolving door of "who's healthy today?" A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez both spent significant time on the IL.
If you were betting on these games, the "Under" was usually your friend. Despite the offensive firepower like Ketel Marte and Brandon Nimmo, the games often turned into gritty, low-scoring affairs because both managers, Carlos Mendoza and Torey Lovullo, were managing every inning like it was the playoffs.
Keys to the Matchup
- Health over Hype: The Diamondbacks had the better "on-paper" roster with Burnes and Gallen, but the Mets' depth in the rotation (guys like Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning) kept them competitive when the stars went down.
- The Soto Effect: Having Juan Soto in the lineup changes how pitchers approach the entire Mets order. You can’t pitch around Lindor or Alonso as easily when Soto is waiting to take a walk or blast a 450-foot shot.
- Chase Field vs. Citi Field: The ball travels differently, obviously, but the Mets actually looked more comfortable in the Arizona heat than they did in their own park during that early April series.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re looking back at the data or preparing for future matchups between these two, keep a few things in mind. First, look at the travel schedule. The Mets often struggle in the first game of a West Coast road trip, but they tend to wake up by game two.
Second, watch the pitching matchups specifically for left-handed hitters. Arizona’s lineup is heavy on guys who can punish righties, but a crafty lefty like David Peterson or even a healthy Sean Manaea can neutralize their power.
Lastly, don't ignore the middle relief. In 2025, guys like Reed Garrett and Ryne Stanek were the unsung heroes for the Mets. They weren't getting the saves, but they were cleaning up messes in the 6th and 7th innings that would have otherwise blown the game open.
The 2025 season proved that you can't just buy a rotation and expect a ring. You need the grinders. And in the battle of Mets vs Diamondbacks 2025, the grinders were the ones who ultimately decided who walked away with the W.
👉 See also: Colorado Avalanche vs Winnipeg Jets: What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
Next steps for your research:
- Check the final 2025 injury logs for both teams to see which players are carry-overs for the 2026 season.
- Analyze David Peterson’s home/road splits from 2025 to see if his Chase Field success was a fluke or a trend.
- Review the contract status of Juan Soto to see how his performance impacted the Mets' mid-season trade strategy.