Freddy Peralta's Resurgence With Rays Follows Struggles With Mets

Freddy Peralta has emerged as a dominant force for the Tampa Bay Rays in the postseason, showcasing the ace-level performance that eluded him during his time with the New York Mets. His recent outing in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, where he pitched 5 ⅓ innings of one-run ball to help secure the Rays' World Series berth, lowered his postseason ERA to 1.08.

Peralta's performance with the Rays stands in stark contrast to his tenure with the Mets, where he posted a 4.99 ERA and was a contributing factor to the team's struggles this season. The Rays' success in developing pitchers is evident in Peralta's transformation back into the top-tier starter he was before being traded.

"Everything changed when I got traded," Peralta told ESPN. "I said it before that I’ve been treated here as a king, and I feel really good about it. They’re working me really well here."

Peralta, 30, had previously enjoyed an eight-season run with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he recorded a 3.79 ERA and achieved a career-best 2.70 ERA in 2025, finishing fifth in the National League Cy Young voting. The Mets acquired him with the hope of replicating that success, but he struggled, allowing more hits than innings pitched and seeing his strikeout rate decline.

Upon joining the Rays at the trade deadline, Tampa Bay implemented several adjustments to help Peralta regain his previous form. These changes reportedly included returning to pitching primarily from the stretch, a stance he found more comfortable, and aligning with his approach in Milwaukee. Other modifications involved moving to the third-base side of the pitcher's rubber, widening his stance, increasing the tempo of his delivery, focusing on leg strength, and elevating his arm angle.

These adjustments reportedly led to an improved fastball, reaching 99 mph, and the Rays encouraged him to utilize his change-up more frequently. In the regular season with Tampa Bay, Peralta posted a 3.55 ERA over 10 starts, including a 0.96 ERA in five September starts that helped the team clinch the division.

"There’s some minor adjustments here and there," Tampa Bay pitching coach Kyle Snyder told ESPN. "But I think more than anything else, it was just getting him back to feeling like himself. I think if you get the environment right, a lot of other things can snowball in the right direction for you."

Peralta's strong postseason performance began in the American League Division Series, where he held the Yankees to one run in 4 ⅔ innings in Game 2. He continued this success against the Guardians in the ALCS, earning the win in Game 2, contributing in relief in Game 4, and securing the series-clinching win in Game 6. This marks the Rays' second World Series appearance in franchise history. Peralta will now enter free agency after competing in his first World Series.

"It feels so good because the way that we’ve been working on the little things, in general, everybody — not only outside, not only the pitching coach and all that," Peralta said. "Everybody, from the trainers, people that helped me to feel better with the massage and all that, it’s been amazing, great communication.

"They’ve been awesome with me. They’ve been giving the best of themselves to make me feel good on the field every day."