What happened: Freddy Peralta failed to complete five innings for the third straight start Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits with six strikeouts and five walks in a 4-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox. He heads into the All-Star break 5-8 with a 4.66 ERA and 1.44 WHIP through 20 starts in his first season with the Mets after an offseason trade from Milwaukee.

Why it matters: New York traded for Peralta expecting an ace after he went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA for the Brewers last season, and the drop-off has come as the Mets sit out of postseason contention with the trade deadline approaching. Interim manager Andy Green said he was "encouraged" by the life on Peralta's fastball and called it a "pathway" to fixing the walk problem. Peralta is already the subject of trade deadline speculation as New York looks to move pieces.

What to watch: Peralta enters the break looking to cut down the walks that have shortened his recent outings, with the right-hander acknowledging his results could factor into how the Mets approach the deadline as a seller.