Key Takeaways
- • Mets owner Steve Cohen attended Rays-Guardians ALCS Game 2 at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, where former Met Freddy Peralta threw six scoreless innings and Tampa Bay tied the series 1-1.
- • Peralta allowed 4 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts, and his 99.4 mph fastball was the hardest pitch of his major-league career.
- • Peralta posted a 4.99 ERA in 113.2 innings with the Mets in 2026 before the Mets traded him to Tampa Bay at the Trade Deadline for three minor-league players.
- • With the Rays, Peralta went 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts and a 0.96 ERA in September, earning AL Pitcher of the Month honors.
- • Peralta said he did not know whether Cohen came to watch the game or to see him, and described Cohen as "awesome."
Summary
Mets owner Steve Cohen was in attendance at Tropicana Field on Tuesday for Game 2 of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians, where former Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta started for Tampa Bay. Peralta held Cleveland scoreless through six innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out six, and the Rays won to tie the series 1-1. The Rays had already built control of the game after an error by Jose Ramirez in the fourth inning and a two-run single from Liam Hicks.
Adam Schein, speaking on his show on New York Post Sports, described the scene as a nightmare for Mets fans: "You have Steve Cohen watching Freddie Peralta shine and dominate and dazzle." Asked about Cohen's presence, Peralta said, "I don't even know if he came just to watch the game or maybe me too." He said his relationship with Cohen remained positive despite his difficult time in New York, noting that Cohen had texted him after the Mets acquired him and that the two stayed in good communication during spring training. Peralta added, "I think that he's awesome."
Peralta's tenure with the Mets fell well short of his 2025 form with Milwaukee, when he went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA, struck out 204 batters across 176.2 innings, and finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting. The Mets acquired him and took up the final year of his contract, but he posted a 4.99 ERA across 113.2 innings in 2026. By August, with the team at 62-76 and out of postseason contention, the Mets traded him to the Rays at the Trade Deadline in exchange for three minor-league players.
In Tampa Bay, Peralta's results improved markedly. According to the report, he lost the delivery mechanics that had made his fastball effective in New York, including some arm angle and extension, and Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder and his staff helped restore that extension, adjust his pitch mix, make greater use of his changeup, and improve his command. He finished the regular season 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA over 10 starts, went 4-0 with a 0.96 ERA in September, and allowed one earned run over 4.2 innings against the Yankees in the playoffs. His fastball reached 99.4 mph against Cleveland.
The contrast between his two stints has become a talking point for Mets observers. Peralta's success does not change the reasons the Mets traded him, but it underscores how differently his season unfolded after the move.
Adam Schein, speaking on his show on New York Post Sports, described the scene as a nightmare for Mets fans: "You have Steve Cohen watching Freddie Peralta shine and dominate and dazzle." Asked about Cohen's presence, Peralta said, "I don't even know if he came just to watch the game or maybe me too." He said his relationship with Cohen remained positive despite his difficult time in New York, noting that Cohen had texted him after the Mets acquired him and that the two stayed in good communication during spring training. Peralta added, "I think that he's awesome."
Peralta's tenure with the Mets fell well short of his 2025 form with Milwaukee, when he went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA, struck out 204 batters across 176.2 innings, and finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting. The Mets acquired him and took up the final year of his contract, but he posted a 4.99 ERA across 113.2 innings in 2026. By August, with the team at 62-76 and out of postseason contention, the Mets traded him to the Rays at the Trade Deadline in exchange for three minor-league players.
In Tampa Bay, Peralta's results improved markedly. According to the report, he lost the delivery mechanics that had made his fastball effective in New York, including some arm angle and extension, and Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder and his staff helped restore that extension, adjust his pitch mix, make greater use of his changeup, and improve his command. He finished the regular season 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA over 10 starts, went 4-0 with a 0.96 ERA in September, and allowed one earned run over 4.2 innings against the Yankees in the playoffs. His fastball reached 99.4 mph against Cleveland.
The contrast between his two stints has become a talking point for Mets observers. Peralta's success does not change the reasons the Mets traded him, but it underscores how differently his season unfolded after the move.
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