Freddy Peralta carried the Rays past the AL Championship Series with his arm on fire. The right-hander earned ALCS MVP honors after delivering dominant fastball performances that sent Tampa Bay to the World Series.
Peralta's stuff was unhittable when it mattered most. He leaned on his fastball repeatedly throughout the series, overpowering opposing hitters in crucial moments. The velocity and movement gave batters fits. He delivered when the Rays needed length and when they needed outs in tight spots.
This is the kind of postseason performance that changes narratives. Peralta entered October with questions about his durability and consistency. He answered them. The Rays, long viewed as perpetual underdogs, now have their ace performing exactly like one of baseball's elite arms.
Tampa Bay reaches the World Series off the back of one guy throwing heat and pounding the zone. That's not complicated baseball. It's effective baseball. Peralta proved he belongs on the biggest stage, and the Rays are heading to October's final series because their fastball guy simply overpowered the best competition the AL had to offer.