Freddy Peralta, acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays at this year’s trade deadline, has posted a concerning 7.53 ERA through his first three starts. That number alone looks bad, but it hides a truly brutal 9.31 ERA from his first two outings in a Rays uniform.
The Nightmare Debut
Peralta’s initial impression with the Rays was definitely rough. We’re talking 15 hits and 10 earned runs across just 9 2/3 innings in those first two starts. His Rays debut was a 3.2-inning disaster where he gave up seven runs. The following week in Sacramento, he allowed three runs in 6.0 innings. Bob Nightengale from USA Today points out the real kicker here: Peralta pitched those two games in two of baseball’s most hitter-friendly parks. His first outing with the Rays? That was in high-altitude Colorado, a place notoriously known as a nightmare for pitchers. The second was at the launching pad in Sacramento. Talk about a tough draw to kick off your new chapter!
Beyond the Brutality
While you cannot completely excuse Peralta’s 7.53 ERA since the trade, one awful start is doing a lot of heavy lifting to make his overall Rays production look far worse than it actually is. He was a lot better against the Athletics, even if he still allowed a couple of runs and got a no-decision. His most recent start in Tampa Bay saw him give up two runs in 4.2 innings. That wasn’t ideal, sure, but it wasn’t a terrible outing either. It shows a pitcher adjusting, finding his footing after that wild, back-to-back stretch in those pitcher-unfriendly stadiums.
The word from Nightengale is Peralta’s struggles might be due to those unfavorable ballparks he faced right out of the gate. As he gets more familiar with the team and pitches in more favorable environments, we could absolutely see him turn things around. The Rays are clearly hoping he can tap into that former All-Star form. Keep an eye on his next start; it could be where we see that real adjustment start to take hold.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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