The perfect player should be right-hander Freddy Peralta, who has been pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays since the trade deadline and has bounced back after a puzzling first half with the New York Mets.

Since August 26, Peralta has made 10 starts—including his postseason work—and has a 7-0 record with a 0.89 ERA, 39 strikeouts, 16 walks and a 0.91 WHIP.

No Major League pitcher has had a better ERA during that stretch, and that includes Cam Schlittler (1.17 ERA) and Drew Rasmussen (1.37 ERA), two others who have been among the toughest pitchers to beat.

So, the dominance he just displayed on the mound, going 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in two starts in the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians, made Peralta the Rays’ MVP, just the third in ALCS history, joining Randy Arozarena (2020) and Matt Garza (2008).

FINAL: #Rays 3, #Guardians 1.

Unlike what happened in Game 1, this should be a pitching series between two teams built for small ball.…