Freddy Peralta Struggles in Loss to Blue Jays: ‘Crazy is the Word’

Freddy Peralta’s struggles continued on Wednesday as he faced the Toronto Blue Jays, marking yet another challenging outing for the right-hander. In just four innings, Peralta surrendered five runs, contributing to the Mets’ 9-3 defeat. This performance elevated his ERA to 4.81 and his WHIP to 1.416, underscoring a season that has not met expectations since his offseason trade to New York.

The Mets had high hopes for Peralta, envisioning him as the ace of their pitching staff. However, the reality has been a far cry from the 2.70 ERA and 1.075 WHIP he boasted during his time with the Brewers last season. On this particular evening, Peralta’s fastball command was notably lacking. He issued three walks, a season high that echoed his six-walk performance against the Yankees back in May, and when he did find the strike zone, the Blue Jays capitalized.

“I know we all want him to go out there and dominate like we believe he can,” interim manager Andy Green reflected post-game. “For us, it’s just a matter of getting the fastball where he knows he wins. He’s been winning there for a long time in the big leagues. And he knows how he’s good, why he’s good and we all know it. It’s just a matter of going out there and executing.”

After the game, Peralta expressed his frustration candidly. “Not good,” he said when asked about his feelings following the outing. “I don’t feel good, but just try to come back and make the adjustment.” When pressed about whether this was the roughest stretch of his career, he admitted, “probably, yes.”

Despite his struggles, Peralta remains perplexed by the situation. His velocity and pitch movement remain intact, yet he can’t pinpoint the source of his inconsistency. “I understand the game, and all that. But sometimes what I do is my best every day. I prepare to have success, but sometimes,” he paused, “it’s crazy is the word I can describe it right now.”

As the Mets approach the August 3 trade deadline, Peralta’s performance will be crucial. In the final year of his contract, he could emerge as a trade piece if the team decides to become sellers. However, for New York to secure a favorable return, they need Peralta to regain his form and deliver more consistent outings on the mound.

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