Peralta Pitches Rays Into World Series as ALCS MVP, Mets Can Only Watch

The Tampa Bay Rays are heading to the World Series, and they have the New York Mets to thank for it. The Mets handed the Rays a ready-made, top-of-the-rotation starter at the trade deadline, and after a few tweaks and adjustments Peralta helped seal the deal as he pitched five more shutout innings to get Tampa Bay into the World Series with 7-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians.

It was more ongoing embarrassment for the Mets as Peralta was named the ALCS MVP, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to end any time soon. While the Mets are playing their latest game of “fire a few coaches,” the Rays are playing in real postseason baseball games, with Peralta in a starring role as he followed the same pattern that got him a win in his last start. 

The Ray staked him to a 3-0 lead early, with the runs coming on genuine hits this time rather than a Cleveland error, and he made it hold up. Tampa Bay got two in the second, starting with a Junior Caminero single and a walk to Victor Mesa Jr. by Guardians opener Shawn Armstrong, and Richie Palacios doubled them both home to make it 2-0. 

The Rays added another run in the third on a sacrifice fly from Jonny DeLuca that brought home Caminero walked, and that was all Peralta needed. He made the 3-0 lead stand up into the sixth inning, when he gave up his lone run on a double by Chase DeLauter and a single from Nathaniel Lowe. But reliever Cam Booser picked him up and shut Cleveland down, and the Rays scored four more runs in the seventh and eighth innings to put the game away. 

Peralta wasn’t quite as dominant as he was in his Game 2 win, though. He gave up five hits and three walks to go with three strikeouts in his 5-1/3 innings, and he finished the ALCS with an ERA of 1.08, which is close to the ERA he posted in September as he helped pitch the Rays into the playoffs. 

The Mets, meanwhile, will be hunting for a new ace while they’re watching the one who got away. Right-hander Nolan McLean may be ready to step into that role, but the Rays could be world champs by the time that happens. 

Things now get even more interesting for Peralta, who will make his next start for his old team, the Milwaukee Brewers, in an unlikely World Series matchup that’s sure to be a purist’s delight and a network nightmare waiting to happen.