Freddy Peralta Remains Optimistic Amid Inconsistent Start with Mets

In a challenging outing that saw him give up a career-high 10 earned runs over 2.2 innings, Freddy Peralta’s struggles were on full display during Saturday’s 15-3 rout at the hands of the Phillies. This performance dropped the Mets right-hander to a 5-6 record and a 4.83 ERA in his first season with New York, following his trade from the Milwaukee Brewers in January.

Reflecting on the game, Peralta acknowledged the difficulty of the situation. “Before today, it probably wasn’t that terrible,” he said, though he admitted, “But today’s not good.” The game started on a sour note as Bryce Harper, who achieved the rare feat of hitting for the cycle within just five innings, launched a two-run home run to right-center field, putting the Phillies on the board early.

The Mets’ woes continued as they fell behind by 11 runs after an eight-run third inning. Peralta struggled with his command, throwing 52 strikes on 80 pitches while striking out two and walking one, leaving the Mets (34-42) playing catch-up from the outset.

Despite the rough outing, Peralta is not losing hope. “I’m not worried about it,” he stated, acknowledging his current discomfort but remaining focused on improvement. “Of course I don’t feel good right now, but I’m not worried about it.” His manager, Carlos Mendoza, echoed this sentiment, expressing confidence in Peralta’s ability to rebound. “He’s too good of a pitcher,” Mendoza remarked. “He’s going through a little bit of a rough stretch here. But if somebody’s able to bounce back after bad outings, it’s a guy like Freddy.”

This month has presented a mixed bag for Peralta, who began June strong, allowing just one run in six innings during a 7-1 victory against the Seattle Mariners. However, he faced setbacks with a six-run outing against the St. Louis Cardinals before bouncing back with a solid performance against the Atlanta Braves.

“Just focusing on the good things and just trying to come back and feel like myself,” Peralta said, highlighting his determination to move past the inconsistencies. “I think I’ve been a little inconsistent, but I have time to be better.”

As the Mets approach the final week of the month, they too are searching for consistency, having not won three consecutive games since a four-game streak from May 27-31. Mendoza noted the team’s challenges in stringing together wins, but he remains hopeful. “We expect — and they expect — more out of them,” he said, emphasizing the need for the team to harness their talent and find a rhythm.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.