When you do something on the baseball field that’s only been done twice in nearly 114 years by two Hall of Famers, you know it’s extraordinary.
Tampa Bay Rays star and ALCS MVP Freddy Peralta has been lights out down the stretch. In his last 10 starts dating back to the regular season, he has pitched more than 50 innings, allowed one run or fewer in each start, and his team has won all 10 games, according to Opta STATS.
The only two other pitchers to have such streaks were St. Louis Cardinals legend Bob Gibson in 1968 and Walter Johnson in 1913 with the Washington Nationals. However, Johnson’s Nationals are not today’s Nationals. The franchise later became known as the Washington Senators before moving to Minnesota and becoming the Twins in 1961.
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When the Rays acquired Peralta from the New York Mets at the trade deadline, he had a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts. While they expected him to improve, no one could have expected this.
“This is crazy,” Peralta said. “I’m very happy to be here and grateful to be here because when I was in July, I had no idea where I was going to be. I think that this was the right place.”
Since joining the Rays, the 30-year-old went 5-2 in 10 regular-season starts with a 3.25 ERA and was named the American League’s Pitcher of the Month for September. In the postseason, he has been especially dominant. In four appearances (three starts), Peralta has a sparkling 1.08 ERA in 16 2/3 innings pitched.
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Nicknamed “Fastball Freddy” for his heater, Peralta credited Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder, along with bullpen coach Jorge Moncada and bullpen catcher Charlie Valerio, for his turnaround.
“They helped me a lot,” Peralta said. “I can’t thank them enough because the way that they helped me is amazing, something I’m never going to forget in life. I’m very grateful to have people like that here, people that I never saw before and now they are part of my family.”
While Peralta is on a roll, the World Series is going to be a little odd for him: He will face the Milwaukee Brewers, with whom he spent the first eight seasons of his career.
“Milwaukee is a team and a city that gave me the opportunity to make my dream, and also Milwaukee is going to be always in my heart,” Peralta said. “But this is a time to compete … and excited to go.”
The right-hander is set to hit free agency this offseason and could earn a big payday. First, however, he is looking to take down his old team and help the Rays win their first World Series title.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
