Edwin

Uceta

Uceta has come out of seemingly nowhere to grab five saves and six holds for the Rays since August 1st. His sinker and changeup are so unique and nearly indistinguishable until the last moment from his almost pure side-arm release. The Rays have truly done it again as Uceta is surely to be in their high leverage mix for next season.

This one got tight in a hurry. Uceta walked Alejandro Kirk to start the ninth inning and then gave up consecutive hits to Ernie Clement and George Springer to put the tying run on third base with one out. Yet, he found his way out of trouble and grabbed his third save in seven days.

This was Uceta’s first appearance since his implosion and… incident against the Phillies on Tuesday. He showed that outing was just a bump in the road as he was dominant yet again. His sinker was zipping all over the zone and the Guardians had no answer for the Rays’ newest bullpen revelation.

Uceta was suspended for two games after hitting Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos intentionally. Rays manager Kevin Cash was suspended for one game. Uceta has a 1.49 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 51 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings on the year.

That was quick. Uceta will begin serving the suspension immediately and will be available for the Rays beginning Friday against the Guardians. Kevin Cash is also serving his one-game suspension.

It sounds like it’s still three games. Players often get a game knocked off for declining to appeal and immediately serving their suspensions. If that happens to be the case here, we’ll find out soon. Uceta was suspended for throwing at and hitting Nick Castellanos during Tuesday’s game.

Uceta was deemed to have thrown at Nick Castellanos during Tuesday’s contest, and he caused a minus ruckus after. The right-hander has the right to appeal the suspension and it’s unclear at this time whether he will do so. Kevin Cash was also suspended for one game for his involvement.

The right-hander was electric, striking out four and walking one while allowing just one hit. Uceta has been pitching the high leverage innings for the Rays since Pete Fairbanks got hurt, which hasn’t always led to save chances, but he snagged his second of the season tonight and has been pitching well enough to remain on fantasy radars.

Edwin Uceta started the ninth inning with the Rays up 2-1 and struck out two batters, but he also gave up two hits, so the Rays turned to Cleavinger to face left-hander Trevor Larnach. Even though the Twins then pinch-hit for Larnach, Cleavinger was able to get the final out and secure his fifth save of the season.

Cleavinger got the call to face his former team in extra innings with a two-run lead, and managed to work through the heart of Los Angeles’ lineup to preserve the victory, He got Shohei Ohtani to fly out before giving up a run-scoring sacrifice fly to Mookie Betts. He settled down immediately after to get Freddie Freeman to ground out to end the contest. It looks like the Rays went with purely a matchup decision here as Cleavinger faced a pair of left-handed batters after Manuel Rodríguez tossed a scoreless ninth inning in a tie ballgame. It’s likely Edwin Uceta was unavailable after recording four outs on 24 pitches during Thursday’s series opener.