The New York Mets sit at 22-30 on the 2026 season with the main culprit for their struggles being a league worst offense. Over the last three games, the Mets have scored a total of four runs, and they are 1-2 in those games. But one key aspect the Mets haven’t gotten so far this year is consistency from an offseason trade acquisition, right hander Freddy Peralta. The Mets were hoping that Peralta could be a top-of-the-line starter in the rotation, but he’s been inconsistent at best.
Mets Need More from this Offseason Acquisition
The Trade and Expectations
The Mets needed a big boost in the starting rotation to help out guys such as Clay Holmes and rookie Nolan McLean. They acquired Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers for pitching prospect Brandon Sproat. The trade was logical by the Mets. They needed someone to solidify the rotation, and the Brewers were looking to offset another player they weren’t going to be able to pay. Peralta still has one year left in his current contract, and the Mets and Peralta could not agree to an extension before the season began.
Peralta was the starter for the Mets on opening day, and the hope was he’d help make a viable 1-2 combo with home and McLean. However, while Peralta’s season to this point hasn’t been “bad” by any stretch, it’s been a roller coaster and quite frankly not the 2025 version that the Mets were looking for. A version that sent him to his second All-Star appearance.
Peralta’s Season
In 2025, he pitched to a career high 2.70 ERA in 33 games started. Peralta threw 176 innings pitched, another career high, and won another career high 17 games. His ERA+ was 157, and FIP of 3.64 and a WHIP of 1.075. Not to mention a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 5.7. All things considered, it was a great year for Peralta and the Mets needed a pitcher with that type of production.
In 2026 with the Mets, Peralta’s Wins Above Replacement sits at a paltry 0.7 after 11 games started with a 3.52 ERA. He sits at 3-4 on the season, which can also be because of the Mets offensive problems. He’s thrown 61 innings pitched. Peralta’s allowed 51 hits, 24 earned runs, eight home runs, 27 walks, with 63 strikeouts. His ERA+ sits at 112, and an FIP of 4.15.
The Inconsistencies
Over his last two starts against the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins the up and down season continued. Some good and some bad. Against the Yankees, he gave the Mets five innings, but he walked six batters, allowed a home run, and three earned runs. The Mets pulled out a comeback win in extra innings, but Peralta’s walks were notable.
This past Saturday against the Marlins, Peralta maybe had his weirdest starts so far this season. If Peralta gave the Mets a seven-inning outing with nine strikeouts, you’d think they won the game. However, the Mets lost 4-1. Yes, the offense again was lifeless with a three-hit performance. But Peralta, despite the innings and strikeouts, allowed four earned runs, two home runs, and eight hits. Not a bad outing, but also not a great outing at all. He still had signs of struggling.
What The Mets Need from Peralta
Consistency. That is what they need out of him. With McLean hitting a rough patch as of late and Holmes being lost for the majority of the season with a broken leg, the Mets need Peralta to step up. Also, if for Peralta himself, he has to pitch better if he wants s a new contract, whether it’s with the Mets or somebody else is the question. They could trade Peralta in a few months, especially with the way they are playing, but that’s a conversation for another day. For now, Peralta has to pitch more like his 2025 version, and just a little less than the version the Mets have gotten so far.
Main Photo Credits: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
