Here's why the Mets' rotation is about to change 

NEW YORK -- The Mets’ rotation is filled with moving parts. Max Scherzer may return from his suspension on Monday, unless rain forces him to go later in the week. Justin Verlander is due back from the injured list Wednesday, or maybe that’s Thursday, but either way it should happen in Detroit. Jose Butto is technically part of the rotation for now, but that could change within a matter of days. Carlos Carrasco and José Quintana? They’re further away, but certainly still in the picture.

What it all means for David Peterson remains to be seen, but after Peterson allowed a three-run homer to Matt Olson in a rain-shortened, five-inning, 4-0 loss to the Braves on Friday, his time in the rotation could be running short.

Coming off a two-start stretch in which he allowed 13 earned runs over 11 innings, Peterson appeared much improved early, retiring 10 of the first 11 batters he faced. But trouble surfaced in the fifth inning at Citi Field, when Peterson gave up three hits over a four-batter stretch to bring Olson to the plate. The lefty slugger jumped on a first-pitch slider over the heart of the strike zone, sending it 433 feet to the seating area below the Shea Bridge in right-center field.

“He was really good up until that point,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said of Peterson. “He was a pitch away from getting out of there and wasn’t able to finish a good lineup.”

Several minutes later, a heavier rain began falling at Citi Field, prompting the grounds crew to haul out the tarp. Play was stopped at 8:34 p.m. ET, and umpires called the game 1 hour and 28 minutes later, with the Mets offering free ticket vouchers to anyone who sat through the weather.

“[The field] was pretty trashed there in that fifth inning,” Peterson said. “You can only keep it dry for so long.”

For the Mets, the performance left more rotation questions than it answered. Over his last three starts, Peterson’s ERA is 9.56. With Scherzer and Verlander both returning to active duty soon, the Mets will need to remove Butto and one other member from its ranks. Kodai Senga isn’t going anywhere. Tylor Megill has delivered better results than Peterson thus far this season. That leaves either Peterson or Joey Lucchesi, the latter of whom has produced a 2.19 ERA in his two starts since returning from Tommy John surgery -- both Mets victories.

If the Mets wish, they can delay the decision with a six-man rotation as a way to give Scherzer, Verlander and Senga extra rest. And these issues do have a way of settling themselves over time. But the Mets could also decide that a spell in Triple-A would do Peterson good, considering their confidence that his talent level far surpasses his results.

Last year, Peterson produced a 3.83 ERA over 19 starts and nine relief appearances, proving invaluable for his ability to remain consistent despite an inconsistent schedule. This season, the Mets could use a little more of that, understanding that even if Peterson isn’t long for the rotation right now, he’s near certain to return at some point over the summer.

To that end, Peterson’s first four innings Friday offered him some assurance that not all is lost.

“It gave me a lot of confidence,” Peterson said. “It’s been that way quite a bit this year where I’ve had my stuff, I’ve been able to execute pitches, and then I look back and there’s a couple of pitches that cost me. I felt like I was in a good spot.”