Freddy Peralta was brought to Tampa Bay ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline with a clear assignment: strengthen the Rays’ rotation for the stretch run. Four starts later, the results have been anything but reassuring.
Peralta is 0-2 with a 7.17 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 21.1 innings since joining the Rays. Rather than leaving his problems with the New York Mets behind, the two-time All-Star has watched many of them follow him to Tampa Bay.
The warning signs were already there. Before the trade, Peralta had gone 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA over 22 starts for New York. Tampa Bay was betting that a change of scenery, along with some adjustments, could help get him back on track.
So far, that bet hasn’t paid off.
Peralta’s durability concerns followed him to Tampa Bay
His Rays debut was particularly ugly. Peralta lasted only 3 1/3 innings while surrendering seven earned runs on nine hits. It was exactly the kind of abbreviated outing that had already become a concern before the trade. Fans had even saddled him with the nickname “five-inning Freddy” because of his difficulty consistently pitching deep into games.
There have been flashes of something better.
On Aug. 10, Peralta completed six innings for the first time since June 6, allowing three earned runs on six hits and one walk. It was arguably his strongest Tampa Bay start at that point, even though he remained without a victory.
Then came another encouraging stretch against Baltimore on Aug. 16. Peralta leaned heavily on his fastball and allowed only one hit over 4 2/3 innings. The problem was that the Rays ultimately suffered a 10-2 loss, and Peralta once again failed to finish five innings.
Rays are searching for the right formula with Peralta.
His next meeting with Baltimore presented a different problem.
On Aug. 21, Peralta finally gave Tampa Bay length, working seven innings and striking out six. But the Orioles scored five earned runs against him, including damage from two home runs, and Tampa Bay fell 5-3. Peralta took the loss.
That outing illustrated the frustrating situation the Rays now face. When Peralta has managed to pitch deeper, preventing runs has remained a problem. When he has limited the damage, he hasn’t always provided enough innings.
Tampa Bay appears willing to keep searching for the right formula. Peralta increased his changeup usage in the Aug. 21 start after using a more fastball-heavy approach five days earlier. Those changes suggest the Rays are experimenting with how they deploy his arsenal rather than waiting for his results to improve on their own.
But there isn’t much time for experimentation.
The clock is ticking for Peralta to turn things around.
Through his first four Tampa Bay starts, Peralta has posted an 18% strikeout rate and a 6.7% walk rate. More importantly, the Rays still haven’t received the dependable rotation boost they were seeking when they acquired him.
Individual innings and stretches suggest Peralta can turn things around. He has now reached at least six innings in two of his four starts, including seven against Baltimore. The question is whether he can combine that durability with effective run prevention.
That is the combination Tampa Bay needs, and after four rocky starts, Peralta is still searching for it. The Rays made their move before the deadline, hoping to get a proven two-time All-Star for the stretch run. With the calendar moving toward September, the window for Peralta to become that pitcher again is getting smaller.
