AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: GUARDIANS VS RAYS

October 19, 2026

Freddy Peralta

Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay Rays

Postgame 6 Press Conference

Rays - 7, Guardians - 3

Q. We kind of asked you this after your first start, but now that you've made it to the World Series and now that you're the MVP, can you imagine being in this position even two months ago?

FREDDY PERALTA: No. I'm being honest. It's crazy, like, how not only life can surprise you, but this game.

Q. The home run by Caminero was really the dagger in this game, was really the exclamation point. From your vantage point as a teammate, what did you think of that home run by Cami?

FREDDY PERALTA: It was an unbelievable, amazing moment. I was inside in the moment, and I just took the (inaudible) off and I ran away because I couldn't miss that moment. And I enjoyed it with him. And I think he's never going to forget that.

Q. Kevin said that your velo was ticked up a little bit tonight. Did you feel it? Did you want to go into the game with a little more velocity on the fastball?

FREDDY PERALTA: No, I had no idea. I had no idea about how hard I was throwing. I just was focused on getting people out. I was competing and trying to give the best of myself and get quick outs.

Q. Can you talk about what it means to you to be named the MVP?

FREDDY PERALTA: It's unbelievable. I think I have to see it when I go home tonight and start thinking about it, because I still am in shock because I don't believe -- I believe it because it's here and it was announced already and I talked.

But I never think about it. Even in the moment, it surprised me because I thought it was going to be somebody else because there's a lot of talent, a lot of players that did a great job. And I think it could be anybody.

Q. How do you feel that this Rays organization has empowered you and enabled you to succeed in these high-pressure situations?

FREDDY PERALTA: You know, it feels so good because the way that we've been working on the little things, in general, everybody -- not only outside, not only the pitching coach and all that; I mean, everybody, from the trainers, people that helped me to feel better with the massage and all that, it's been amazing, great communication.

They've been awesome with me. They've been giving the best of themselves to make me feel good on the field every day.

Q. In the eighth inning, Yandy hit the home run. Yandy yesterday predicted you guys would win this game, and he backed it up. I guess, what did you think about the prediction and the fact that he backed it up?

FREDDY PERALTA: I saw that earlier today, and it's because you bring in a positive theme to everybody. But he was unbelievable because he told me, after he hit the homer, he told me that he was going to look for that pitch. And everybody knows the results of that pitch. He crushed that baseball in a great moment too.