Rays’ starter going against ex-team in World Series Game 3
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World Series
Tonight: Milwaukee at Tampa Bay, 8 p.m.
Best-of-7 series: Brewers lead 2-0
TV: FOX
Pitching matchup: Brewers LHP Robert Gasser vs. Rays RHP Freddy Peralta
MILWAUKEE -- Freddy Peralta spent his first eight major league seasons trying to help the Milwaukee Brewers earn the World Series berth that continually eluded them.
Peralta is finally in the Fall Classic. So are the Brewers. Just on opposite sides.
Even in a different uniform, Peralta has received cheers from the Milwaukee crowds as his Tampa Bay Rays try to prevent the Brewers from winning their first World Series title. Peralta will be Tampa Bay's starting pitcher in Game 3 tonight in St. Petersburg, Florida. Milwaukee leads the Series 2-0.
"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."
Perhaps this strange situation is the most fitting way for Peralta's roller-coaster season to conclude.
Peralta went 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA for the New York Mets before going to Tampa Bay at the trade deadline. Just over two months later, he was voted the MVP of the AL Championship Series.
Tampa Bay has won each of Peralta's last nine starts. He has posted a major league-leading 0.90 ERA during that stretch. Peralta has allowed two runs over 16ª innings this postseason.
"I feel like he's kind of come back to being Freddy Peralta with us," Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Peralta went 70-42 with a 3.59 ERA for the Brewers from 2018-25, making two All-Star teams. He had only one year remaining on his contract when the Brewers 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. He allowed seven runs over 5• innings in an 8-3 loss at Milwaukee on July 20 that caused his ERA to rise 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."
Peralta was asked Saturday what went wrong in New York.
"Sometimes I ask the same question myself," Peralta replied. "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 would make one more appearance for the Mets before they sent him to Tampa Bay for a package of prospects including outfielder Aidan Smith, infielder Emilien Pitre and pitcher Gary Gill Hill.
Cash said he got a call shortly after the trade from San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames, who started his career at Tampa Bay before playing alongside Peralta in Milwaukee from 2021-24.
Adames' message to Cash was that the Rays were getting one of the best guys in baseball. Sure enough, Peralta made an instant impact 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."