Edwin Uceta Fantasy Stats

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) started the 2026 season on the 15-day injured list with a right-shoulder impingement, but he threw live batting practice on Friday and could be nearing a return to the Rays' bullpen in early April, barring a setback with his rehab. The 28-year-old carries plenty of strikeout upside at the back end of the Rays' bullpen, and he could have a clear path to lead the team in saves this year, especially after Griffin Jax blew his first two save opportunities in the first two ballgames of the season. Uceta is widely available in fantasy leagues right now, too, and is only rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues. The Dominican reliever had a tidy 1.51 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in 41 2/3 innings with five saves in 2024 and was one of just five relievers to reach the 100-strikeout mark last year in 76 innings pitched. For the strikeout upside alone and potentially plenty of saves/holds, Uceta is probably one of the most attractive relief arms widely available on the waiver wire early in the season because of his shoulder injury.

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) threw a live batting practice session on Friday and has another one scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, according to MLB.com. If he gets through those unscathed, Uceta should start a minor-league rehab assignment soon after that. The 28-year-old was put on the 15-day injured list on March 22 with right-shoulder soreness. He reported not feeling great in spring training when playing catch on Feb. 19 and received a cortisone injection on Feb. 20. Uceta had a 1.51 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in 41 2/3 relief innings for the Rays in 2024 and was one of only five relievers in 2025 to have over 100 strikeouts in 76 innings in 2025. Right-hander Griffin Jax entered the 2026 season as the Rays' favorite for saves, but he has blown his first two opportunities. When Uceta is activated from the IL, he could quickly become manager Kevin Cash's go-to man in the ninth inning. He has the most upside of Tampa's high-leverage arms, not only for saves, but also for strikeout potential.

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) threw a bullpen session in camp on Saturday morning, the first time he has thrown off a mound since receiving a cortisone shot for shoulder inflammation in mid-February, according to John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays haven't officially ruled Uceta out for Opening Day in late March, but he's still likely to begin the year on the injured list due to his injury setback this spring. With the 28-year-old likely to be ready, it sets up the Rays for a closer-by-committee approach, which is expected to feature Griffin Jax, Garrett Cleavinger, and Bryan Baker. Despite his shoulder injury, the 28-year-old Uceta is an intriguing stash candidate in fantasy baseball leagues as a high-leverage relief arm. The Dominican hurler had a 1.51 ERA in 2024 and was one of just five relievers in baseball in 2025 to strike out over 100 batters in 76 innings of work for Tampa.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta was diagnosed with shoulder inflammation and a slight impingement in his right shoulder, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Uceta got a cortisone shot, and the plan is for him to start throwing next weekend. Topkin writes that Uceta could be cutting it close to be ready for Opening Day on March 26. The 28-year-old figures to be squarely in the mix for save chances in Tampa alongside Griffin Jax and Garrett Cleavinger this year after posting a 3.79 ERA (3.69 FIP), 1.17 WHIP, one save, a career-high 103 strikeouts, and 27 walks in 76 innings for the Rays in 2025. He was even better the year prior with a 1.51 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and a career-high five saves. Uceta was one of just five relievers last season to reach 100 K's.

Tampa Bay Rays high-leverage right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) tested his "cranky" shoulder in camp on Thursday and "didn't feel great" the longer he played catch, according to manager Kevin Cash. Uceta will see a doctor, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. It's not great news for the 28-year-old, who is expected to be in a closer committee in Tampa after recording six saves in the last two seasons for the Rays. Even if the Dominican hurler doesn't have any structural damage in his right shoulder, he could be forced to open the 2026 season on the injured list. If Uceta's injury is significant enough to keep him sidelined to begin the campaign, both Griffin Jax and Garrett Cleavinger should see more save opportunities for the Rays. Uceta had a 3.79 ERA (3.69 FIP), 1.17 WHIP, and one save in 76 frames last year. He was one of just five relievers with 100-plus strikeouts.

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) will skip pitching in this year's World Baseball Classic due to a "little cranky" right shoulder, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The good news is that the Rays are "very confident" that Uceta will be ready for Opening Day on March 26. The 28-year-old Dominican will play a key role at the back end of Tampa's bullpen this year and is expected to share high-leverage closing duties with Griffin Jax and Garrett Cleavinger now that Pete Fairbanks is no longer in town. Manager Kevin Cash said the decision to keep Uceta out of the WBC was a precautionary move. In 76 innings last year, Uceta had a 3.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, one save, 21 holds, a career-high 103 strikeouts, and 27 walks in 70 appearances. His 38.7% whiff rate on his four-seam fastball ranked second overall in the big leagues, and he was just one of five relievers to reach 100 K's. While he may not rack up a ton of saves, Uceta will be useful for his ratios and holds.

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta won his salary arbitration case against the team on Friday, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Uceta will make $1.525 million in 2026 after the Rays offered him $1.2 million. The 28-year-old Dominican hurler will return to the Rays for his third season this year after going 10-3 with a 3.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, one save, and a 103:27 K:BB in 76 relief innings. His 103 punchouts were a new career high in his fifth year in the big leagues. Uceta was even better for the Rays in 2024, with a 1.51 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, a career-high five saves, and a 57:8 K:BB in 41 2/3 frames. He gets plenty of swings and misses with his fastball/changeup combination, and he's expected to open the 2026 campaign in a closer-by-committee role in Tampa. Uceta was one of just five relief pitchers last year to reach the 100-strikeout mark, so even if he's not racking up many save chances, he should be useful for his strikeout ratios.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Edwin Uceta survived an Athletics rally to log his first save of the year in a 6-5 win on Wednesday. With closer Pete Fairbanks getting the day off, Uceta entered a 6-3 game in the top of the ninth with nobody out and a man on second. He immediately allowed the inherited runner to score on a Gio Urshela single before striking out Colby Thomas. The Athletics then hit three straight singles to plate two runs and make it a 6-5 game. They had the bases loaded with one out, but Uceta buckled down and fanned both Brent Rooker and Nick Kurtz to end it. While he did manage to preserve the win, Uceta has struggled this year after a brilliant showing in 2024. The 27-year-old has pitched to a 5.20 ERA (6.34 xERA) with a 1.40 WHIP and 45:15 K:BB in 36 1/3 innings. He has, however, been a good source of holds with 13 on the season.

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta is being suspended for three games and fined for intentionally hitting Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos in the eighth inning of the game on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. Uceta has the right to appeal MLB's ruling, which would allow him to continue pitching until the appeal is heard. Manager Kevin Cash was also suspended for the contest in Philly on Wednesday. If the 26-year-old Uceta accepts the ban, he'll miss the next three games and won't be eligible to pitch again for the Rays until Saturday in Cleveland against the Guardians. In his first year with the Rays in 2024, Uceta has gone 2-0 with a tidy 1.49 ERA, a 0.79 WHIP, his first two career saves, a career-high 51 strikeouts and only six walks in 36 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.

The Detroit Tigers have claimed right-handed pitcher Edwin Uceta off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks, per a tweet from the American League Central club's public relations Twitter account. Uceta, 24, has appeared in 24 games at the Major League level in the last two seasons, throwing a total of 37.1 innings. Last year in 17 innings for the Diamondbacks, the right-hander pitched to a 5.82 ERA and a 4.52 FIP in 10 appearances, striking out 13 batters compared to seven walks in the process. He turned in a 4.86 ERA, a 5.50 FIP, 70 strikeouts, and 30 walks in 50 Triple-A innings last year. The reliever will give the Tigers some additional bullpen depth heading into the 2023 season.