Report: Peralta initiated sitdown with Soto, Lindor

It sounds like if it’s not at some point this weekend against the Astros, Soto is in play to be activated for the September fantasy stretch run. He’s been out with a calf strain since late July.

Green added that Soto, who has expressed confidence that he’ll play again this season, remains without a definitive return timetable. He’s been on the injured list with a Grade 2 left calf strain since late July. All signs point to Soto being ready to return to New York’s lineup at some point in September, but he’s going to need a rehab assignment before that happens.

Peralta allowed just two hits and no walks while striking out four. He posted a 62 percent strike rate with a 30 percent CSW and a 12 percent swinging strike rate on the day. This was easily his best performance as a member of the Rays, and the first time he’s allowed no runs in a start since June 25th. Actually, it’s only the third time he’s allowed no runs in a start all season. As we expected, the Rays continue to have Peralta lean on his changeup more, even to righties, and he had a 31 percent swinging strike rate on the pitch on Tuesday. To righties, he located the pitch far better in the zone, but he focused on chases outside of the zone against lefties. He’ll look to keep it going with a revenge game of sorts against the Mets on Wednesday; although, it’s unclear who would want revenge on whom.

Lindor’s home run was his 13th of the season. He hit a solo shot off Kyle Harrison in the fifth inning. Lindor made the play of the game when he had to dive to catch a line drive with the bases loaded and two outs in a tie game in the ninth inning. He’s 18-for-65 (.276) with four home runs and eight RBI over his last 17 games. He’s hitting .239 with a .756 OPS and 33 this year.

Peralta got off to a bit of a rough start in this one. After allowing back-to-back hits to lead off the inning, one of which was an RBI single by Pete Alonso to score Jackson Holliday from second, he then walked Gunnar Henderson to put runners on first and second with no outs. He was fortunate enough to get out of the inning thanks to a double play ball by Samuel Basallo, but in the top of the second inning he would surrender a leadoff homer to Dylan Beavers to cut the Rays’ lead to 3-2. Peralta wouldn’t allow a run over the next two innings, but a sacrifice fly by Jackson Holliday in the fifth inning followed by a two-run homer by Pete Alonso put the O’s back on top 5-3. Peralta wouldn’t allow another run over his last two innings of work, but the Orioles got the best of him after managing just two runs against him when they faced off last week. Peralta’s next start is set for Wednesday on the road against the Tigers.

Soto hit the injured list with a Grade 2 left calf strain back in late July and told reporters that he expects to play again this season. The fact that he’s progressed to on-field running just a few weeks later seems to back up that initial optimism. The 27-year-old generational talent still needs to ramp up a hitting progression, and will likely require a brief minor league rehab assignment, before he’s ready to return to New York. There should be a more definitive return timetable at some point in the coming weeks.

Peralta also walked three batters in the contest while recording a pair of strikeouts. He hadn’t allowed a run when he was pulled with two men on and two outs in the fifth inning, only to watch Garrett Cleavinger come on to allow a pair of hits and both of those runners to score. Peralta got 13 whiffs on 76 pitches on the afternoon, registering a CSW of 24 percent. He’ll look to improve upon his disappointing 5.27 ERA and 1.48 WHIP when he squares off against these same Orioles in Baltimore on Friday.

Lindor drew a walk and scored a run in the first inning, then led off the eighth with a single and was caught stealing. He then came through for the Mets in the ninth, delivering the walk-off hit to score the winning run. The 32-year-old shortstop is hitting .244/.332/.442 with 12 homers, 38 runs scored, 32 RBI, and three steals across 292 plate appearances.

At first, it seemed like Lindor would be responsible for another disappointing game by the Mets. He let a ground ball skip past his glove that helped push across an early run in a game that stood at 1-0 until the sixth inning. Then, in the bottom of that inning, Lindor launched a 409 foot solo home run that tied the game. The Mets rallied after and held on to win this one. After a poor start to the season and calf injury that cost him most of the first half, Lindor’s now up to 12 home runs and a .769 OPS. Eight of those homers have come in his last 30 games though and he has an elite .921 OPS over that span.

Peralta gave up six hits, walked one and struck out five. It was a solid rebound start after he allowed seven runs to the Rockies at Coors Field in his Rays debut. The Rays haven’t totally fixed Peralta quite yet, but this was certainly a step in the right direction. Peralta is lined up to face the Orioles at home on Sunday.