Mets beat Dodgers as Peralta likely makes last start for New York - ESPN

NEW YORK — The New York Mets acquired Freddy Peralta in late January for games like Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They envisioned a frontline starter capable of slaying the deepest lineup in baseball with the stretch run to October around the corner. Peralta was supposed to be a piece to a World Series puzzle. Instead, after four months of frustration, his tenure in Queens is just about over.

With the Aug. 3 trade deadline looming and New York's postseason chances dashed, Peralta, a free agent this offseason, knew he probably took the mound Sunday for the final time in a Mets uniform.

«I know it probably is,» the 30-year-old Peralta said. «But I have to focus and keep giving the best of myself. And if it happens, it happens. I'm thankful and grateful to be part of this organization. I know that, so far, I've let them down. I haven't done what I'm supposed to do. But I'm grateful to be here.»

Peralta's performance Sunday in the Mets' 8-3 win — he gave up three runs (two earned) and threw 93 pitches over four innings — was progress compared to his previous outing when he gave up seven runs across 5⅓ innings, which fittingly illustrates the disappointing season.

He emerged with a 4.99 ERA in his 22 starts. He has pitched into the sixth inning in only 11 of them and completed five innings in 15. He has not been the pitcher the Mets expected when they traded two top prospects to the Milwaukee Brewers for him and Tobias Myers, who is currently in Triple-A, knowing he was one season from free agency.

«We haven't done what we were expected to do, in general, especially when I speak about myself,» Peralta said. «I know that I can be way better than this. I still believe in myself. I am born to be a winner, not a loser.