Freddy Peralta Earns ALCS MVP Honors in Rays' Pennant-Winning Series

Freddy Peralta went 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA against the Cleveland Guardians to help the Tampa Bay Rays secure their third American League pennant.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta was named the American League Championship Series MVP following a 7-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night at Tropicana Field. Peralta earned a 2-0 record with a 0.75 ERA across three appearances in the series, including two starts and one relief outing. In the clinching Game 5, he allowed one run and five hits over 5⅓ innings of work.

The two-time All-Star also threw six scoreless innings during Game 2 and recorded two outs in relief during Game 4. Since joining Tampa Bay in an August 2 trade from the New York Mets, Peralta has surrendered one run or fewer in 10 consecutive appearances, a stretch in which the Rays have gone 10-0. Before the trade, he posted a 5-9 record and a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts for New York, but improved to 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts for the Rays to earn AL Pitcher of the Month honors for September.

Manager Kevin Cash announced the award for the pitcher nicknamed "Fastball Freddy" on the postgame stage. Peralta credited pitching coach Kyle Snyder, bullpen coach Jorge Moncada, and bullpen catcher Charlie Valerio for his mid-season turnaround. The Rays now advance to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series, the franchise where Peralta spent eight seasons and went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA in 2025. Peralta is scheduled to start either Game 2 in Milwaukee on four days' rest or Game 3 next Monday in St. Petersburg.