NEW YORK — It may not have the star power of a big-name rom-com set in New York City, but the Rockies and Sammy Peralta may end up needing each other in a big way in the Big Apple.

Now everyone involved is hoping this is a match made in heaven for a Rockies bullpen that could use another left-handed option with a doubleheader against the Mets looming on Sunday.

Peralta arrived at Citi Field on Friday with a clear and simple mission: find a home in Colorado’s bullpen and prove he can stick at the MLB level.

The 27-year-old left-hander pitched in five September games for the Los Angeles Angels last season, logging a 7.59 ERA and giving up runs in three of his five appearances. Since then, he’s gone through waivers from the Angels to the Milwaukee Brewers to the Rockies, with Colorado picking him up on April 4 and assigning him to Triple-A Albuquerque.

In seven games with the Isotopes, Peralta posted a 3.72 ERA over 9.2 innings, with opponents hitting .200 against him.

With starting pitcher Ryan Feltner hitting the 15-day injured list with right ulnar nerve inflammation and Colorado facing a doubleheader on Sunday after being rained out on Saturday, Peralta likely will get a chance to make an impact before the Rockies leave New York late Sunday night.

Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela, right, celebrates with catcher Hunter Goodman after a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, April 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

“Multi-inning reliever. Really good against left-handers,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said of Peralta’s role on Friday before a 4-3 Rockies win kicked off a three-game series against the Mets. “We’ll try to find those pockets for him in terms of left-handed hitters. Our bullpen needs him right now.”

A Queens, N.Y., native, Peralta said he has focused on his pitching in minor league stints rather than worrying about when he would be back on a big-league mound.

“Just focus on the process. That’s all you can do,” Peralta said of waiting to get back to the big leagues. “You can’t really worry about who’s going to try to keep you on the team or not. You just have to keep going, one day at a time.”

Chicago White Sox pitcher Sammy Peralta throws against the Texas Rangers during the third inning of the second game of a baseball double header Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Peralta brings a varied pitch mix to the Rockies, with his sweeper spiking in usage last season with the Angels. He threw the pitch 48.4% of the time, up from 5.7% in nine outings with the Chicago White Sox the year before. He also incorporated a sinker into his pitch mix in 2025, throwing it 32% of the time.

Those two pitches will continue to lead the arsenal with the Rockies, Peralta said, as he hopes to make an immediate impact.

“I’m willing to do whatever it is to try to win a spot here,” Peralta said.

Kyle Freeland aiming for return

Just as Feltner lands on the injured list, another Rockies starter is trending toward a return to the rotation later in the road trip.

Kyle Freeland said he was feeling good ahead of Saturday’s scheduled bullpen that was pushed to Sunday because of weather. That bullpen session could determine if he comes off the injured list when the Rockies open a series at Cincinnati on Tuesday.

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

“Hopefully that’s the final tune-up for him,” Schaeffer said. “Kyle’s been great so far this year. He’s one of our best starting pitchers and it would be great to have him back.”

Freeland has a 2.30 ERA in 15.2 innings over three starts this season. He was scheduled to pitch on April 12 against the Padres but was scratched from that start with left shoulder inflammation.

Rainout scramble

Saturday’s rainout will force the Mets and Rockies to play a traditional doubleheader beginning at 11:40 a.m. Sunday.

With the doubleheader, Jose Quintana (0-2, 6.23 ERA) is scheduled to start game one while the second game is expected to center around Chase Dollander (2-2, 2.88 ERA) after an opener is employed.

The doubleheader also means the Rockies will be able to call up a 27th man for Sunday. With Dollander and the bullpen expected to be the focus in the second game, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Rockies add another reliever to the roster in Queens.

Colorado will leave Sunday night after the doubleheader and have an off day in Cincinnati on Monday before beginning a three-game set against the Reds on Tuesday night.