​Freddy Peralta opened Thursday’s game rough for the Mets in Toronto, lasting only four innings and giving up five runs as New York fell to the Blue Jays 9-3. The stumble pushed his ERA to 4.81 and his WHIP to 1.416, continuing a frustrating season since the Mets acquired him this offseason, hoping he’d be their ace. Instead, Peralta has been an inconsistent starter and far from the 2.70 ERA and 1.075 WHIP he posted with the Brewers last year.
In this outing, Peralta’s fastball command was noticeably off, as he walked three batters—the most since a six-walk game against the Yankees on May 17—and the Jays punished him whenever he located in the zone. Interm manager Andy Green acknowledged the need for Peralta to return to dominating, stressing that the fastball is where he often wins and that the command simply isn’t there consistently yet.
Peralta himself attributed the struggles to a lack of command starting with the first hitter of each inning. He said the plan was sound and that, despite the results, he must be better and execute more effectively. He also noted working with others to adjust, aiming to piece everything together and wait for the best.
Visibly frustrated, Peralta was seen talking to himself and clenching his fists after warming up his 99 mph fastball to end the first inning and limit the damage to one run. When asked how he was feeling, he answered honestly: “Not good.” He added that this might be the roughest stretch of his career, acknowledging that even with the velocity, movement, and mechanics looking right, he can’t fully explain his recent struggles.
Now in the final year of his contract, Peralta could become a trade candidate if the Mets decide to sell by the August 3 deadline. However, for a strong return, New York will need him to regain consistency and prove he can perform at the level the team hoped for when he was acquired.