Rays continue to roll, Mesa, Aranda, Peralta provide heat check.
Victor Mesa Jr. wins player of the week honors, Aranda HRs twice, and Peralta has returned to excellence
RAYS BASEBALL
Victor Mesa Jr. returned from a brief stint on the IL not long ago and has performed better than ever. The 25 year old slugger is slashing a ridiculous clip of .545/.615/1.182. Mesa Jr has exploded on the scene for the Rays this season, entering 2026 he had played in career 16 games with 1 HR. His season up until this point in 2026? 13 HRs in 199 AB, .330 OBP, .518 SLG, and .848 OPS. Mesa hasn't just performed at the plate, Mesa Jr. is ranked in the 95TH Percentile in Arm Strength, 90TH Percentile in Fielding Run Value w/ 9, and 9 OAA (Outs Above Average). The Rays may have stumbled on a diamond in the rough here late in the season. If Victor can continue to stay healthy and perform at least somewhat comparable to current levels he will help elevate this team during the postseason and help lock down the AL East.
Jonathan Aranda, I have actively said if the Rays want to go deep into October, Jonathan Aranda will need to perform and help the team. Caminero and Diaz can lift a tremendous amount but the performance of Aranda makes this team a threat to anybody. This sentiment is proven by the demolition of the Astros by the Rays, Aranda going 4 for 11 with 2 HRs, with 3 RBIs and 2 BB. Aranda is slashing .292/.379/.625 over his last 7. The Rays will greatly need this kind of stat line during their series against New York and as they enter the final stretch.
Freddy Peralta has arrived. Throughout a tumultuous start to the season, and even as a rough start as a Ray. Peralta has finally entered his zone, and what a a relief for him I am sure it has been. Peralta is a key component for the Rays down the stretch. A team with a solid 5 and even 6 man rotation, Peralta bolsters a strength to a playoff team late in the season. A 2.66 ERA his last 7 games, 3-0 in his last 3 starts and like many other Rays pitchers very reliant on a changeup, up 18.4% in August compared to July, his first month as a Ray. Kyle Snyder has dipped into his bag of tricks to play into Freddy's strengths, one of which being that changeup, a pitch opponents are averaging 81.4MPH exit velocity this year, and a .227 AVG.
Richie Palacios is also on a tear, hitting 3 HRs and slashing .412/.500/.941 over his last 7. I wrote in depth about what Palacios meant for this team in the clutch back in July, here. In 114 Games, Richie has accrued 50 RBIs. A solid feat for a player platooning with Ben Williamson early in the year. Palacios has been seeing the ball well, with a 17.1% K rate & 11.4% BB rate. In critical moments as I highlighted in July, he continues to shine, .290 AVG/.514 SLG/.885 OPS w/ RISP, .281 AVG in late/close games, and over 1.000 OPS w/ runner at 3rd, runners at 1st & 2nd, and runners at 1st & 3rd. So yeah, like I said in July, clutch.....
