Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) throws against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026.
Tuesday night’s contest between the New York Mets and Tampa Bay is centered around a pitching duel featuring Rays trade‑deadline sensation Freddy Peralta versus his former team.
Entering his sixth assignment with the Rays at St. Peterburg, Florida, Peralta (6‑11, 5.11 ERA) carries a six‑win total in eight starts for New York—a 4‑0 record against the Mets with a sub‑2.7 average.
Born in 1996, the 30‑year‑old Dominican landed in New York via a January move from the Milwaukee Brewers, where he went 5‑9 in 22 outings at a 4.99 ERA—a underwhelming stint.
The Mets, sitting 62‑76 at the base of the NL East, were placed on the trade list in mid‑August by moving Peralta to Tampa Bay for three prospects.
While his debut against Colorado proved rough, Peralta revived his rhythm with solid, if unspectacular, outings versus the Athletics and Baltimore. He suffered a heavy hit in a follow‑up start against the Orioles, but turned things around at Detroit, securing his first victory with Tampa Bay (82‑55).
His latest effort delivered a 6‑1 shutout, with just two hits allowed and four strikeouts, earning his maiden triumph there and lifting the Rocks to a 82‑55 record.
Catcher Liam Hicks lauded Peralta’s poise, saying the 38‑year‑old right‑hander “looks every bit the 17‑game winner he was last season with Tampa Bay.”
Hicks continued, “Everyone recognizes the power, yet minor mistakes drive hitters out. That’s why his curveball stands out.”
The Mets took the series opener Monday thanks to Robert Stock, whose first win since 2019 came after a clutch outing that sparked a three‑run lead in the comeback victory against the Raiders.
Stock’s durability in the rotation looks uncertain nonetheless.
Back on the farm Thursday, Mets No. 2 prospect Jonah Tong almost threw a no‑hit ball while battling Triple‑A Syracuse, posting a 6‑1 win in a 6‑0 victory that sealed a sweeper over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Interim manager Andy Green urged optimism, stating, “Our focus stays on watching Tong develop; his raw arm speed has been elite, especially when deployed at higher velocities—and his performance on Friday shows promise.”
Tuesday’s starter Sean Manaea (4‑6, 4.55) sits 3‑1 with a 2.02 ERA across six outings—five starts—posting a strong four‑zero against the Rays.
During the summer, Tong recorded a 2‑1 start with a 4.94 ERA, giving up seven homers in 31 innings.
-Field Level Media