The Cubs traveled to Milwaukee looking to slow down the Brewers, and Freddy Peralta was ready to spoil their plans. Every pitch he threw seemed to keep the Chicago hitters off balance, his fastball blowing bats and his curveball dipping out of reach. It wasn’t long before the Brewers had a shutout on their hands, and when the game was over, Peralta had earned his win of the season. Most of the pitchers in the majors so far. He walked off the mound having led his team to a win over a division rival. The performance didn’t just pad the standings; it demanded recognition.
That recognition came quickly from someone who knows the art of pitching when he sees it. Former big leaguer and current MLB Network analyst Eduardo Pérez didn’t hesitate to pull back the curtain on what makes Peralta more than just another arm in Milwaukee’s rotation. To Pérez, what fans witnessed wasn’t just a strong outing; it was a reminder of how a so-called “hidden secret” can redefine an entire division race.
“He goes in with that sweeper with the fastball, he is deceptive, he throws across his body well, you can tell that he’s 100% healthy,” Pérez said, praising Peralta’s edge on the mound. “This is a guy that was able to see Corbin Burns make himself into a pitcher, right? With that cutter.”
Make that an MLB-best 15 wins for Freddy Peralta!@Brewers | #ThisIsMyCrew | https://t.co/fGPbvbj8w4 pic.twitter.com/wQXt6uowwc
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) August 19, 2025
Pérez made it clear that what separates Peralta isn’t size or intimidation, it’s execution. “Peralta is one of those guys, not a big guy on the mound either, but he does pitch like a big guy. And those are the ones that you want,” he explained. And Peralta’s stuff continues to back that up, forcing ugly swings on pitches out of the zone and weak contact when hitters manage to connect.
The veteran analyst also spotlighted Milwaukee’s rotation as a whole, now strengthened by Brandon Woodruff’s return from the injured list. “The Milwaukee Brewers have themselves a heck of a lengthy rotation, especially when they added Brandon Woodruff from the IL coming back as well, giving them quality innings.” It’s the kind of depth that can wear down opponents not just in August, but deep into October.
And while Pérez calls Peralta a “hidden secret,” Brewers fans know better. They’ve watched him evolve from an intriguing young arm into the kind of ace who can swing a pennant race. Outside the NL Central, he may still fly under the radar, but inside it, everyone knows exactly what’s coming: Freddy Peralta, healthy, confident, and dealing.
Brewers’ modern streak sparks memories of 1987
The Milwaukee Brewers didn’t just rattle off 14 straight wins this summer; they tapped into a part of franchise history that fans still talk about almost four decades later. Every win stacked on top of the last, and with each night, the buzz inside American Family Field grew louder. By the time victory No. 12 landed, Milwaukee wasn’t just celebrating; the city was cashing in on a quirky local burger-chain promotion that promised free food if the streak kept alive. It felt like the whole town was pulling in the same direction, and for long-time fans, the déjà vu was impossible to ignore. They had seen this movie before.
Go back to 1987, remember how the Brewers took off like a shot, starting the season 13-0. It was a ride with the whole city catching the excitement, making April baseball feel like one street festival. This streak had a bit of everything. The team was on fire, they had an air about them, and right in the middle of it all, Juan Nieves made history for the club by pitching the first no-hitter the franchise had ever seen. Fans didn’t just watch the team win, they felt every pitch, convinced they were witnessing something rare. Just like today, the streak wasn’t about the standings as much as it was about the question hanging in the air: how far can this go?
Of course, baseball has a way of humbling you fast. That same ’87 team went from riding high to spiraling in a 12-game losing streak that chewed up their cushion before May even found its rhythm. It was cruel whiplash, the kind of swing only this sport seems to deliver: joy on a Tuesday, heartbreak by Friday. The past adds depth to what’s happening. For Milwaukee fans, it’s a story; streaks always come to an end. What matters is how a team bounces back when things start to go sour. It’s in those moments that the true character of a team is revealed, and that’s where the real story unfolds.
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