Following a rough stretch since joining the Tampa Bay Rays, Freddy Peralta has settled in with his new team with back-to-back quality outings, including a redemption performance against his former team, the New York Mets. 

The veteran addressed his motivation for wanting to beat the Mets as the 30-year-old front-line starter has gained his ''confidence back.'' His sparkling performance had him deliver six dominant innings while allowing only one run on three hits, fanning seven with no walks and generating 14 whiffs and a 30 CSW%. 

It was a massive bounce back from his first four starts, where he compiled an inflated 7.17 ERA while giving up 17 earned runs that included five home runs. Across his last two starts, he has pitched 12 innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, no walks and 11 strikeouts. 

His newfound dominance has been precisely what the team had hoped for when it acquired him ahead of the MLB trade deadline. 

Freddy Peralta's recent success mirrors his former All-Star self

This season, he is now sporting a 7-11 record and a 4.96 ERA with 140 strikeouts, a 1.37 WHIP and an 8.57 K/9. Following his masterful performance against the Mets, his former teammate Francisco Lindor was asked if Peralta had changed since joining the Rays. 

Lindor stated, "No, not really. Very similar to how he was in Milwaukee as well. Freddy's a tough pitcher, he's a really good pitcher."

His return to form across his last two starts has had him log a 0.75 ERA, with opponents hitting a measly .122 against him (5-for-41), with a 0.42 WHIP and 24 total whiffs that include 14 with his changeup.  

Peralta's recent success has paid a strong resemblance to when he was on the Milwaukee Brewers, where he earned two All-Star nods in 2021 and 2025. In his 2021 tenure, he held a stellar 10-5 record and a 2.81 ERA. In 2025, he led the NL in wins with a commanding 17-6 record and a 2.70 ERA.