Freddy Peralta Could Deliver the Biggest Win of Rays 2026 Season

The Tampa Bay Rays are just one victory away from reaching the World Series, and they have an opportunity to finish the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday.

And perhaps fittingly, the pitcher getting the opportunity to send Tampa Bay to the World Series is somebody who wasn't even on the roster three months ago.

Freddy Peralta.

The veteran right-hander was acquired from the New York Mets at the trade deadline after struggling throughout the first half of the season.

Peralta had a 4.99 ERA at the time of the trade, and there were certainly questions about whether he could provide the type of pitching Tampa Bay needed.

However, I think it's safe to say those concerns have disappeared.

Especially considering what Peralta has accomplished throughout the postseason.

The 30-year-old delivered six scoreless innings against Cleveland in Game 2 of the ALCS, allowing Tampa Bay to even the series.

He also recorded six strikeouts and reached 99.4 mph, reportedly the hardest pitch of his career.

But what happened in Game 4 might have been even more interesting.

Kevin Cash elected to use Peralta out of the bullpen after Nick Martinez delivered 5.1 innings of one-run baseball.

And while that wasn't necessarily the role Tampa Bay envisioned when acquiring him, Peralta answered the call.

That's exactly the type of flexibility this team has needed throughout October.

And now he has an opportunity to deliver the biggest performance of his Rays career.

However, Peralta isn't the only pitcher responsible for Tampa Bay being in this position.

Drew Rasmussen has been absolutely outstanding throughout the postseason.

Following Sunday's 3-1 victory, Rasmussen has now thrown 21 innings across three playoff starts, allowing just three earned runs.

That's a 1.29 ERA.

And his performance in Game 5 might have been his most important yet.

Rasmussen threw seven innings, allowing four hits, one earned run, and striking out six.

What impressed me most was Cash allowing him to work through trouble in the sixth and seventh innings rather than immediately turning to the bullpen.

That decision paid off.

And it also helped preserve some important relief options heading into Monday.

The Rays have received outstanding performances from Rasmussen, Martinez, and Peralta throughout this series.

And I think Erik Neander deserves recognition for acquiring another dependable starting pitcher when Tampa Bay needed one.

Of course, none of that guarantees anything against Cleveland.

But with Peralta taking the mound at Tropicana Field, the Rays have an opportunity to clinch their first World Series appearance since 2020.

And considering how important their starting pitching has been throughout October, it would be fitting to see Peralta finish the job.