Peralta was charged with a blown save as he allowed two runs on one hit and one walk over two-thirds of an inning during Saturday's loss to the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

Peralta entered during the seventh inning with a 4-3 lead and two runners on base and walked the bases loaded before serving up a grand slam to Christin Stewart. The 29-year-old entered the season slated for a high-leverage bullpen role but that could be slipping away as he's given up five runs across three innings, with one loss and one blown save to show for it.

Peralta (0-1) took the loss Wednesday, allowing one run on a hit and a walk in an inning of relief as the Royals fell 7-6 to the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

After Brad Boxberger and Ian Kennedy each struggled Tuesday, Peralta was the next man up in a key spot, but he couldn't get the job done either -- with the score tied 6-6, he walked Nelson Cruz to lead off the ninth, let pinch runner Byron Buxton steal second, then gave up a game-winning single to Eddie Rosario. The back end of the Royals bullpen is a mess right now, and if none of the three veteran arms step up soon, manager Ned Yost may begin to look to younger options like Kyle Zimmer in high-leverage spots.

Peralta retired two of the four batters he faced in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Rangers in Cactus League play. He conceded a double and a base hit and struck out one in the outing.

EDGE Analysis

Peralta allowed one of the runners he inherited to score and gave up an addition run on Logan Forsythe's two-out double, but he was at least able to close out the fourth inning to end his day. Manager Ned Yost remains non-committal regarding his plans at closer this season, but Peralta, who owns a 1.93 ERA and 0.86 WHIP over five spring appearances, looks like the frontrunner for saves. Peralta's top competition for the ninth-inning role, Brad Boxberger, made just his second appearance of the spring Monday after missing nearly two weeks with a leg injury.

Manager Ned Yost would not name Peralta as Kansas City's closer ahead of spring training, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports. "The roles will define themselves over time," Yost said.

EDGE Analysis

Yost mentioned Peralta as a possible late-game option, noting the right-hander "got the job done" as the team's closer in 2018, going 14-for-14 in save opportunities. The manager also suggested that he may move away from a traditional ninth-inning role in 2019, instead using the team's top relievers in more flexible high-leverage roles. The Royals recently signed Brad Boxberger, who is also a candidate to close after converting 32 saves for the Diamondbacks last season.

Peralta altered his contract with the Royals to make $3.25 million next season, to go along with a mutual option of $7 million for the 2020 campaign, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

Peralta reinvented himself as a reliable closer for Kansas City in the second half of the 2018 season, logging 3.67 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with 14 saves in 14 chances. His 4.77 FIP, 35:23 K:BB and career low .280 BABIP suggest that he was extremely lucky to finish the year without any blown saves, but the right-hander did just enough to warrant a reworked deal. Look for the 29-year-old to remain in a high-leverage relief role, if not the ninth-inning spot, when the upcoming season arrives.

Peralta allowed a run on two hits and one walk while striking out one in the ninth inning as he picked up the save Sunday against the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

Peralta entered the ballgame with a two-run lead, and he'd let a run cross the plate before striking out the final batter of the afternoon. Although it isn't always pretty, Peralta has yet to blow a save opportunity this season. The 29-year-old figures to maintain his role as the closer for the final week of the 2018 campaign.

Peralta worked a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his ninth save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

He did allow an inherited runner to score on a sac fly, but Peralta still picked up his first save since Aug. 18. The veteran right-hander had given up runs in each of his previous three appearances, and his 3.96 ERA and 25:17 K:BB in 25 innings for the Royals this season aren't exactly elite numbers, but he should remain the team's primary closing option down the stretch.

Peralta worked around a walk with one strikeout in a scoreless inning of work to earn his seventh save of the season Monday against the Blue Jays.

EDGE Analysis

Staked to a two-run lead, Peralta walked the leadoff hitter to bring the tying run to the plate. He then struck out Randal Grichuk and got Kendrys Morales to ground into a double-play to end the game. It was Peralta's first save in roughly two weeks and was a nice way to bounce back after he was touched up for three runs in his previous outing. He appears set to see the save chances that do come the Royals' way, but his lackluster ratios and poor team context put a cap on his fantasy value.

Peralta worked around a walk with one strikeout in a scoreless inning to earn his fourth save of the season Sunday against the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Asked to protect a two-run lead in the ninth, Peralta walked a man with two outs but struck out the final hitter he faced to close it out. Although save chances can be hard to come by for the journeyman converted reliever, he's been scored upon in just one of his last 11 outings to lower his season ERA to 3.18.

Peralta gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning Wednesday to record his second save of the season in a 6-5 win over the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Tim Hill began the inning protecting a 5-1 lead and quickly served up a three-run homer to Brad Miller, forcing the Royals to turn to their newly minted closer, and Peralta was able to get the job done against his former club. The right-hander's fastball was popping at 97 mph, but his track record -- he hasn't posted an ERA below 4.00 in the majors since 2014 -- makes him a volatile fantasy option despite his current role. Then again, Bud Norris headed into 2017 with a similar resume of failure as a starter and turned around his career as a high-leverage reliever, and Peralta could well do the same.