Freddy Peralta is showing renewed form with the Tampa Bay Rays following a difficult stretch with the New York Mets earlier this season. Since being traded on August 3 in exchange for prospects Aidan Smith, Gary Gill Hill, and Émilien Pitre, Peralta has improved his performance on the mound, posting a 3.80 ERA over his last four starts, including six scoreless innings in his most recent outing against the Detroit Tigers.

Peralta, a right-handed pitcher, had struggled during his tenure with the Mets, compiling a 4.99 ERA across 22 starts and frequently failing to complete five innings. Despite these challenges, Peralta expressed that he never felt overwhelmed by the pressure of playing in New York, a larger market known for its intense scrutiny. “I don’t see pressure,” he said during a Monday media session at Tropicana Field. “It’s a way bigger market and there’s a lot more fans, people there, and everybody is paid to win every day. I enjoyed those kinds of moments when I was in New York.”

He acknowledged difficulty in adjusting during his time with the Mets but remains optimistic about his current trajectory with the Rays. “It was the first time I struggled like that, but I never gave up,” Peralta said. “I was always trying to find a way to feel better, to pitch better... Now I feel different, I am ready to keep going to the World Series, hopefully.”

Since joining the Rays, Peralta has found mechanical improvements that have helped rejuvenate his pitching. He pointed to improved extension during his delivery as a factor contributing to added velocity and movement on his fastball. While he praised the Mets’ coaching staff for their efforts to assist him, he noted that the change in circumstance has made a significant difference in his results.

The Rays entered Tuesday holding a 4 ½-game lead in the American League East, positioning Peralta with potential postseason opportunities his Mets team no longer could offer. The Mets acquired Peralta last winter from the Milwaukee Brewers in a deal that sent prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams to Milwaukee, hoping to bolster their rotation with an established starter entering free agency after the 2026 season.

Upon learning of the trade to Tampa Bay, Peralta welcomed the move, appreciating the Rays’ status as a competitive, first-place team. “I felt good because I was going to a team that was playing really well, in first place, competing all the time,” he said. He also expressed fondness for Tropicana Field and the team environment, contrasting it with his initial expectations of remaining with the Mets for the full season.

Peralta maintains close ties with former Mets teammates, highlighting his friendship with outfielder Juan Soto and the camaraderie he experienced during his time in New York. After a light throwing session on Monday, he spent time reconnecting with former colleagues in the visitors’ dugout.

Looking ahead, Peralta is scheduled to start for the Rays against a familiar opponent—his former team, the Brewers—on Tuesday, a chance to continue demonstrating his resurgence since the midseason trade.