When Freddy Peralta, starting pitcher of Milwaukee Brewers struck out San Diego’s Jake Cronenworth on September 22, 2025, he notched his 200 strikeouts for the third straight season – a club‑level feat matched only by two former Brewer arms.
Only two pitchers have ever logged three consecutive 200‑K seasons for the Brewers. Yovani Gallardo did it from 2009‑2012, and Corbin Burnes from 2021‑2023. Peralta’s 2025 milestone places him squarely in that elite group, underscoring how the organization has rebuilt its rotation around swing‑and‑miss stuff.
The Brewers, having clinched their third straight NL Central crown in early September, entered the final month with a partially depleted staff. Starting‑pitcher Brandon Woodruff suffered a lat strain on September 10, and rookie Jacob Misiorowski was shifted to the bullpen after a rough start‑to‑season stretch. Yet the club’s depth held, thanks to veterans like Peralta.
Peralta’s line over 33 starts was nothing short of dominant: 201 strikeouts in 174 2/3 innings, a 2.68 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Opponents batted just .208 against him, and he logged a 17‑6 win‑loss record that placed him fourth in the NL for victories. Those stats echo his previous two campaigns – 203 Ks in 2024 and 207 in 2023 – confirming a sustained elite strikeout rate.
When you break it down, he averaged about 10.4 K’s per nine innings – a figure that would make any bullpen jealous. The spin rate on his curveball, measured at 2,158 rpm during the milestone strikeout, sits at the top of the league’s radar‑gun readings.
The fourth‑inning showdown began with Peralta delivering a 72.3 mph curve that snapped off the plate and caught Cronenworth swinging for a called strike. That was strike number 200. He would finish the night with six K’s, helping Milwaukee limit San Diego to two runs over five innings. The Brewers walked away with a 3‑2 lead after Manny Machado’s fly‑out in the fifth, and Peralta exited with a smile and a fresh “one more” on his mind.
Petco’s crowd, accustomed to Padres fireworks, got a taste of the kind of power pitching that can change a series in a heartbeat. The game itself felt like a preview of what the Brewers hoped to bring to the postseason – relentless strikeout ability coupled with composure under pressure.
“If you’re undermanned or you’ve got injuries, what do you do? Every team goes through it,” said Pat Murphy, the Brewers’ manager, after the game. “It’s our journey to 162, we’re grateful, we’re fortunate, we’re thankful. But at the same time, you’ve got to keep your foot on the pedal.”
Murphy’s comments reflected a pragmatic optimism. The club already secured a first‑round bye, yet the timing of Woodruff’s injury meant the rotation would need to tighten up fast. Peralta’s consistency offered a reassuring anchor.
General manager Matt Arnold (not mentioned earlier, but a key figure) reportedly told reporters that Peralta was the “easy choice” to open the NL Division Series on October 4, regardless of the opponent. The pitcher's postseason résumé – a 1‑2 record with a 4.70 ERA entering the playoffs – was modest, but his regular‑season dominance earned him the nod.
In the 2025 playoffs, Peralta logged three starts. He earned the win in Game 1, then shouldered loss in Games 2 and 3, ending with a 4.70 ERA over 15.1 innings. While the numbers weren’t spectacular, the experience of high‑leverage innings should prove valuable next year.
The Brewers, now looking ahead to a potential 2026 run, will likely lean on Peraltura’s strikeout prowess as they scout free‑agent targets. If they can keep the rotation healthy – especially late‑season arms like Woodruff – the 200‑K benchmark could become a regular expectation rather than a novelty.
For fans, the message is clear: a pitcher who can whiff 200 batters a season gives the team a weapon that can swing any series. And with Peralta still only 29, the Brewers have a few prime years ahead.
It gives Milwaukee a reliable ace who can carry the workload when other starters are sidelined. With Woodruff injured, Peralta’s ability to pitch deep into games while still missing bats eases the strain on the bullpen and allows younger arms like Misiorowski to develop in lower‑pressure situations.
Only Yovani Gallardo (2009‑2012) and Corbin Burnes (2021‑2023) have done it before Peralta, cementing his place among the franchise’s best strikeout artists.
Beyond the personal milestone, the win kept Milwaukee’s lead in the series against the Padres and demonstrated that the Brewers could still dominate despite missing Woodruff. It also gave manager Pat Murphy a morale boost heading into the postseason.
He started three games, logging a 1‑2 record with a 4.70 ERA over 15.1 innings. While the results were mixed, his postseason experience adds a layer of resilience that could pay dividends in future October runs.
If they can keep Peralta healthy and lock down a healthy fifth starter, the team is positioned to defend its NL Central title and potentially add another deep postseason run. The front office is expected to explore free‑agent options to bolster the rotation.
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