Freddy Peralta just got himself named American League Pitcher of the Month for September, and honestly, the dude’s numbers are straight-up bonkers. We’re talking about a guy who came over in August and then absolutely turned into a September beast, posting a 4-0 record and a ridiculous 0.96 ERA over five starts. This isn’t just a good month; this is a pitcher making a serious statement as the season wraps up.
Freddy’s September Stat Line Is Pure Fire
Seriously, look at what Peralta did in September: that 0.96 ERA came over 28.0 innings pitched, where he gave up only 3 earned runs. He punched out 23 batters, walked just nine, and allowed a single home run. His WHIP? An insane 0.89. He even locked in two quality starts. Opponents could barely touch him, holding them to a dismal .165 batting average, a .243 on-base percentage, and a microscopic .216 slugging percentage on just 16 hits in 97 at-bats. The Rays didn’t just win his starts; they went undefeated in all five games he pitched in September.
When you break down his dominance, it gets even crazier. He paced all AL pitchers in ERA, tied for the league lead in wins, ranked second in opponent slugging percentage, and third in opponent batting average. He was fourth in opponent OPS and sixth in WHIP, even while tying for ninth in innings pitched. This isn’t just a flash in the pan; this is top-tier pitching across the board. He’s only the second pitcher in Rays history, joining Chris Archer in July 2013, to win four or more games with a sub-1.00 ERA and a sub-1.00 WHIP in a single calendar month. Talk about elite company!
The Mid-Season Acquisition That Paid Off Big
Remember when the Rays snagged Peralta from the New York Mets on August 2nd? They sent Gary Gill Hill, Émilien Pitre, and Aidan Smith packing for him. Well, that deal looks like an absolute steal right now. Before the trade, Peralta’s season with the Mets wasn’t exactly sparkling, going 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA over 113.2 innings and 22 starts. His opponent batting average was .264, and his WHIP sat at a shaky 1.48.
But since landing in Tampa Bay, it’s a completely different story. In 10 starts, he’s gone 5-2 with a sharp 3.25 ERA over 55.1 innings. His strikeouts are up, his opponent batting average plummeted to .208, and that WHIP dropped to a solid 1.01 before his absolutely insane September run. This September award is his third career Pitcher of the Month nod, but his first in the AL; he previously earned two NL awards with the Brewers back in August 2025 and August 2023. This Moca, Dominican Republic native has truly found his stride, becoming one of just four AL pitchers this season to toss 28.0 innings with a sub-1.00 ERA and sub-1.00 WHIP, and one of only four Rays pitchers age 30 or older to achieve a sub-0.90 WHIP over 28.0+ innings in a month. It’s wild what a change of scenery can do!
As the regular season winds down, Peralta’s dominant September performance gives the Rays massive momentum. Keep an eye on this guy; he’s clearly locked in.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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