Uceta allowed three earned runs on four hits across 0.2 innings Thursday against the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

Uceta was viewed as one of the top setup men in baseball entering the season, but he hasn't lived up to that billing over the first six weeks. He's allowed at least one earned run in five of his 17 appearances, and more concerningly has a pedestrian 13:6 K:BB across 15.2 frames. Uceta does lead the Rays with six holds, so he remains part of the high-leverage mix behind closer Pete Fairbanks.

Uceta threw 1.2 scoreless innings against the Blue Jays on Sunday and now has a 2.08 ERA and 0.92 WHIP through four Grapefruit League appearances.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander struck out the side in his spring debut back on Feb. 25. Overall, he has held opponents to a .143 BAA during this year's exhibition slate. Uceta had one of the highest strikeout rates in baseball in the second half last year at nearly 40 percent, and he looks like the top candidate for saves in Tampa Bay behind primary closer Pete Fairbanks entering the 2025 regular season.

Uceta allowed a hit and struck out one batter in a scoreless inning while earning a save against Boston on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Uceta worked around a one-out single by Vaughn Grissom in the ninth inning to preserve the 2-1 win. It was Uceta's fifth save of the year, with all of them coming during his last 12 appearances. During that span, he's converted each of his five save chances while tallying three holds alongside a 2.77 ERA. For the season, Uceta has produced a terrific 1.51 ERA and 57:8 K:BB through 41.2 innings.

Uceta allowed one earned run on two hits and one walk while striking out one in the ninth inning to earn the save Sunday against the Blue Jays.

EDGE Analysis

Uceta was called upon to protect a two-run lead and allowed the tying run to reach third base with only one out. However, he recorded the final two outs without allowing the ball out of the infield to record his fourth save of the season. Uceta remains one of the most skilled pitchers in the Rays' bullpen, but a different reliever has now converted each of the team's four save chances.

Uceta picked up the save in Friday's 3-1 victory over Cleveland, pitching 1.2 clean innings with two strikeouts.

EDGE Analysis

Uceta relieved Mason Montgomery with one out in the eighth after the latter allowed two hits to his three batters faced. Uceta efficiently retired five straight batters on only 18 pitches to lock down the Rays win in his first appearance since serving a two-game suspension for intentionally hitting Nick Castellanos on Tuesday. He has now pitched to a 1.42 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 53:6 K:BB with three saves across 38 innings this season. The 26-year-old has been an elite reliever and is in the fluid mix for Tampa Bay save opportunities while Pete Fairbanks (lat) remains on the injured list.

Uceta's suspension was reduced Wednesday from three games to two games plus a fine, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

The reliever's suspension comes after umpires determined he intentionally hit Nick Castellanos with a pitch during Tuesday's loss to Philadelphia. Uceta will begin serving the suspension Wednesday, but the Rays will now be able to add him to their bullpen a day earlier than initially expected.

Uceta won't appeal the three-game suspension issued by Major League Baseball and will begin serving the ban in Wednesday's series finale in Philadelphia, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Uceta was issued the suspension after he was ejected in the eighth inning of Tuesday's 9-4 loss to the Phillies when umpires determined that he intentionally hit Nick Castellanos with a pitch. In addition to sitting out Wednesday, Uceta will miss games Thursday and Friday in Cleveland before he's eligible to return for the penultimate game of the series Saturday.

Major League Baseball issued a three-game suspension to Uceta on Wednesday after he was ejected from Tuesday's game against the Phillies in the eighth inning when he hit Nick Castellanos with a pitch, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rays manager Kevin Cash was also handed a one-game suspension. Uceta was charged with three runs while retiring just one batter before getting tossed from the contest after umpires determined he intentionally hit Castellanos with a pitch. Uceta is one of four different Rays relievers to pick up at least one save since Pete Fairbanks (lat) went on the injured list last month.

Uceta allowed three earned runs on four hits while recording only one out Tuesday against the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

Uceta entered the game in the eighth inning with the score knotted at 4-4 and runners on second and third. He allowed three of the next four batters he faced to reach base on a double, single and homer, pushing the game out of reach for the Rays. Uceta avoided a loss because Richard Lovelady allowed the inherited runners on base, but it was still a disastrous outing. Even factoring in Tuesday's results, Uceta has a 1.62 ERA and 0.90 WHIP with a 27:3 K:BB in 16.2 innings since Aug. 1.

Uceta notched his second save of the season Sunday against Baltimore, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four in 1.2 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Called upon to preserve a 2-0 lead with two runners on and one out in the eighth, Uceta promptly struck out the next two batters to escape the jam. Uceta then worked around a single and a walk in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season. Save opportunities have been few and far between, but Uceta has been dominant since Pete Fairbanks (lat) landed on the injured list on Aug. 19, throwing 7.1 scoreless innings with a sparkling 15:2 K:BB during that stretch. The 26-year-old Uceta hasn't allowed a run since July 31 and owns a pristine 0.75 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 50:6 K:BB in 36 innings this season.