Jun 20, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
For the guy who is supposed to be the New York Mets’ ace, Freddy Peralta looks nothing like it.
The veteran right-hander was blown to bits by the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, allowing a career-worst 10 runs in just 2.2 innings of work. In 16 starts since being acquired mid-winter from the Milwaukee Brewers to be New York’s headlining arm, Peralta is 5-6 with a 4.83 ERA.
“Before [Saturday, this season] probably wasn’t that terrible,” Peralta said. “But today’s not good.”
This is the second time in three starts that Peralta has been tagged for at least six earned runs — the latest downturn of a season in which he has failed to provide any consistent top-tier stuff.
The 30-year-old has gone six innings in just six of his 16 starts, which is the same number of outings in which he’s allowed two or fewer runs.
“I’m not worried about it,” Peralta said. “Of course, I don’t feel good right now, but I’m not worried about it.”
It’s the right thing to say, but his recent run of form is only putting more stress on a Mets rotation that is being held together by duct tape. With no Clay Holmes or Christian Scott and staggering unreliability from David Peterson and Kodai Senga, it leaves New York with Peralta, Nolan McLean, and a revitalized Sean Manaea as its only tangible options moving forward.
There is no other option but to try and get Peralta to work through it, especially if — worst-case scenario — his name is going to be at the top of a lot of other teams’ wish lists at the trade deadline later this summer.
“He’s too good of a pitcher,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “I mean, this is a guy that, when you look at his track record, he’s been one of the best pitchers in the game. He’s going through a little bit of a rough stretch here. But if somebody’s able to bounce back after bad outings, it’s a guy like Freddy.
“He’s a competitor. He’s a guy that’s going to come back the next day and look for ways to get better and improve, and that’s what we will do.”
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