The New York Mets have a new ace, and fantasy owners have been accustomed to viewing Freddy Peralta as a near-ace for some time. The move to a more pitcher-friendly park should help, but do not overreach, because the reality is that the lineup around him is roughly the same and the bullpen is likely worse at protecting his leads. Peralta has been a standout for years, and slotting him in as a high-value fantasy arm is easy. The question is just how high he should go.
There is plenty to like. Peralta struck out more than 200 batters for the third straight season, led the National League with 17 wins, and set a new career low with a 2.70 ERA. His home run rate remains a concern, as he has allowed 63 homers over the last three seasons, and his walk rate sits near three and a half per nine innings. That may sound like nitpicking, but it matters when the word ace enters the conversation.
Peralta loved pitching in Milwaukee, where he went 9-1 with a 1.77 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 108 strikeouts across 91.2 home innings. The Brewers were cautious with his workload, allowing him to pitch into the seventh inning only twice, while he failed to get out of the fifth inning in 18 starts.
Overall, the profile has clear strengths and manageable flaws. He walks too many hitters, gives up the occasional long ball, and does not consistently work deep into games. When he is on, however, he is nearly as dominant as anyone in baseball. For fantasy purposes, Peralta fits best as an elite No. 2 starter rather than the foundation of a staff. Consider him a fringe ace, but be careful not to let the New York spotlight push him too high overall.