Freddy Peralta Returns to Milwaukee as an Opponent, Ready to Face Brewers in World Series Game 3

Freddy Peralta dedicated his first eight major league seasons to the Milwaukee Brewers, striving to help the franchise reach the World Series that had consistently slipped away. Now, Peralta has finally arrived at the Fall Classic—and so have the Brewers, but they find themselves on opposing sides. Even in a Tampa Bay Rays uniform, Peralta has been met with applause from Milwaukee crowds as his current team attempts to stop the Brewers from securing their first World Series championship.

Peralta is slated to take the mound as Tampa Bay's starting pitcher in Game 3 on Monday in St. Petersburg, Florida, with Milwaukee holding a 2-0 series advantage. The right-hander admitted the situation feels surreal. "It is a little weird," Peralta said Saturday. "I've been trying to focus on what I have to focus because even when I came out yesterday for practice, all the people, all the fans here (were) showing me some love, screaming my name. Also, when I went to the bullpen last night, they were telling me, 'We still love you.' It's amazing."

This unusual scenario might be the most fitting conclusion to Peralta's turbulent season. He posted a 5-9 record with a 4.99 ERA for the New York Mets before being traded to Tampa Bay at the deadline. Just over two months later, he was named the most valuable player of the AL Championship Series. The Rays have won each of Peralta's last nine starts, during which he has recorded an MLB-leading 0.90 ERA. This postseason, he has allowed only two runs over 16 2/3 innings. "I feel like he's kind of come back to being Freddy Peralta with us," Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

Key Analysis

Peralta compiled a 70-42 record with a 3.59 ERA for the Brewers from 2018-25, earning two All-Star selections. He had only one year remaining on his contract when Milwaukee traded him in January for pitcher Brandon Sproat and infielder Jett Williams. As the Mets struggled this season, Peralta endured one of the worst stretches of his career, including a July 20 outing at Milwaukee where he allowed seven runs over 5 1/3 innings in an 8-3 loss, raising his ERA to 5.01. "We knew when he faced us (with) the Mets, that wasn't him," Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff said. "I could see it visually. I'd seen him throw about every pitch in the big leagues up until this year."

When asked Saturday what went wrong in New York, Peralta responded, "Sometimes I ask the same question myself. I don't try to make excuses and all that. The good thing, I was feeling really good physically. I was trying to give the best of myself as always, and I prepared how I should be preparing. But I don't know. For some reason, things weren't going my way." Peralta made one more appearance for the Mets before being sent to Tampa Bay for a package of prospects including outfielder Aidan Smith, infielder Milien Pitre and pitcher Gary Gill Hill.

Cash said he received a call shortly after the trade from San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames, who began his career with Tampa Bay before playing alongside Peralta in Milwaukee from 2021-24. Adames told Cash that the Rays were acquiring one of the best individuals in baseball. Peralta quickly made his presence felt in the locker room. "An extreme vibes guy," Rays shortstop Taylor Walls said. "He's always smiling. I've never seen him not smile. From the time he steps foot in the clubhouse to the time he leaves, he's always working. He's on the first bus in and the last bus out."

Peralta's turnaround with Tampa Bay was not immediate. He surrendered 17 runs over 21 1/3 innings in his first four appearances with the Rays, pushing his ERA to 5.11. However, he caught fire from there, finishing the regular season with a 5-2 record and a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts for Tampa Bay. Cash credits Peralta for communicating what he needed to improve and then executing it. As his fastball velocity increased, so did his results. "He's in his element, man," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. "That's Fastball Freddy. Changeup's been great, a pitch that he really worked on here and got better."

Peralta aims to deliver the Rays their first World Series title, even at the expense of his former team. He did not pitch in the first two games in Milwaukee because Cash wanted to save him for Tropicana Field, where the right-hander has excelled in three playoff starts. "I know how special it is to pitch on this mound here in Milwaukee," Peralta said. "I would like to pitch here during the postseason." If the World Series extends to six or seven games, he might get that opportunity.

Originally reported by yourvalley_net.