Mets' Freddy Peralta eager to put best foot forward vs. Marlins

A.J. Minter threw a perfect inning in what became his finale with the New York Mets on Wednesday night.

Brooks Raley earned the win on Thursday in what could have been his swan song with the team.

Freddy Peralta likely will get a chance to become the next Mets pitcher to exit on a high note Friday night, when he is scheduled to take the mound in the second contest of a four-game series against the visiting Miami Marlins.

Peralta (5-9, 4.99 ERA) is slated to oppose the Marlins' Janson Junk (4-6, 4.89) in a battle of right-handers.

Luis Robert Jr. delivered the tie-breaking two-RBI single in the eighth inning of New York's 4-2 victory over Miami on Thursday.

The Mets, who are in last place in the National League East and 10 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot, reportedly began their trade deadline teardown after the game. They dealt Minter, a left-handed reliever and impending free agent, to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for prospects Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick. Agbayani is the son of former New York outfielder Benny Agbayani.

Raley and Peralta, each of whom are in the final season of their contracts, likely will follow Minter out the door before Monday's trade deadline.

But while Raley (5-5, 2.01) and Minter (1-1, 2.35) have pitched well this season, Peralta has struggled since being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in January.

Peralta, the Mets' Opening Day starter, lasted at least six innings just six times in 22 starts. His ERA is almost twice as high as last season, when he led the NL with 17 wins and posted a 2.70 ERA.

"I know so far that I've let them down," Peralta said following his start on Sunday, when he didn't factor into the decision after allowing three runs (two earned) over four innings in the Mets' 8-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I haven't done what I'm supposed to do."

The up-and-down Marlins might still be trying to figure out what they're supposed to do at the deadline. Miami surged into contention by going 26-8 from June 1 through July 9 before losing 12 in a row.

The Marlins briefly climbed back over .500 by sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies in a three-game series before arriving in New York.

Miami is 2 1/2 games behind the Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks in the race for the last two National League wild-card spots.

"I feel like it's hard to ignore," outfielder Jakob Marsee said about trade deadline speculation. "It's out there and you open your phone, you see it. But at the same time, I think we all love playing with each other and we're just trying to enjoy it each and every day."

Junk didn't factor into the decision in his most recent start last Sunday, when he gave up one run over 4 2/3 innings against the San Diego Padres. He will face the Mets for the first time in his career.

Peralta is 3-5 with a 4.47 ERA in 13 career games (10 starts) against the Marlins.

--Field Level Media