The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays are set to meet in the 2026 World Series. There are a number of intriguing storylines in this series. The fact that both teams are chasing their first ever championship stands out, of course. However, there is also the element of Freddy Peralta facing his former team.
Peralta was traded from the Brewers to the New York Mets last offseason. After not pitching especially well and New York struggling overall, Peralta was traded from the Mets to the Rays. The move worked out, as Peralta turned his season around and has played a crucial role in Tampa Bay's push to the Fall Classic.
Brewers broadcaster Jeff Levering recently commented on Milwaukee preparing to face Peralta in the World Series.
“He will get a nice ovation,” Levering said. “I mean, the Brewers lit him up when he was a Met this year, right before the trade deadline. It was not good, but he is a different cat now. I mean, he got into the Tampa Bay lab and he looks like Brewers Freddy Peralta. I think he's gonna get a really good ovation… Brewers fans love Freddy, they will always love Freddy and I will always love Freddy Peralta.
“He's one of my favorite human beings ever, but I want to beat him. I want to beat him and the Brewers want to beat him bad.”
Peralta pitched with Milwaukee from 2018-2025. He earned two All-Star selections with the Brewers and even finished fifth in National League Cy Young voting in 2025.
Article Continues BelowIt wasn't his choice to leave. The Brewers traded him to the Mets. Fans still appreciate everything he brought to the team.
Now, Peralta is with the Rays. Milwaukee will always love Peralta like Levering said, but the Brewers are now focused on defeating him and the Rays in the World Series.