Tampa Bay

Rays

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.

The two-run shot was his sixth of the season and accounted for the only runs in the entire game. DeLuca came into Sunday on a hot streak, going 15-for-42 (.357) with nine runs scored, two home runs, and three steals over the previous 12 games. He has inserted himself back into the Rays’ starting lineup and is worth an add in most fantasy formats.

Littell matched Corbin Burnes with five scoreless innings apiece, but the Rays were able to break through against Burnes in the top of the sixth, which allowed Littell to snag the win. The right-hander didn’t allow an extra-base hit, but he also had just six whiffs on 42 swings for a 14 percent whiff rate and 23 percent CSW. It wasn’t an overwhelming start but fantasy managers won’t complain. Littell will take a 3.89 ERA into a tough matchup against the Guardians next week.

This doesn’t rule out Springs for the season, but it doesn’t seem all that likely that he’ll pitch again. The left-hander had a 3.27 ERA in seven starts since returning from Tommy John surgery, even though his velocity was down about two mph from where it was before he got hurt. Tyler Alexander could start for him Monday against the Phillies.

Alexander was just optioned three days ago, but he’s back now with Jeffrey Springs going on the IL, and he could start Monday against the Phillies in Springs’ place. Alexander has a 5.66 ERA in seven starts and 12 relief appearances for the Rays this season.

Díaz got the scoring started in the first inning, taking Zach Eflin deep for a solo homer. He knocked a base hit in the third, then led off the seventh with a walk before scoring on a single by Logan Driscoll. Díaz would reach for a fourth time in the eighth, driving in a run with a single. The 33-year-old first baseman is slashing .279/.337/.417 with 14 homers and 64 RBI across 567 plate appearances.

Walls had an excellent day at the plate, starting with a solo homer to lead off the third inning, his first home run of the season. He drove in a second run with a base hit in the sixth. Walls then reached for a third time with a walk to lead off the eighth, stole second, then scored on a single by Yandy Díaz. The 28-year-old shortstop is hitting just .178/.288/.244 with 23 runs scored and 13 steals across 212 plate appearances.

Pepiot was excellent on Saturday, holding a tough Orioles lineup to just one run into the sixth inning. He had tossed five scoreless before Cedric Mullins took him deep for a solo homer. The 27-year-old right-hander will take a 3.66 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 118/40 K/BB ratio across 113 innings into a start against the Guardians in Cleveland on Thursday.

Lowe will miss his second straight contest on Saturday after being unavailable for Friday’s game as he deals with right middle finger inflammation. The Rays are trying to lessen his workload at the moment and limit the number of swings he takes as that is reportedly aggravating the issue.

The Rays offense was almost completely silent in this game. They didn’t record an extra-base hit and didn’t have a runner reach base until the seventh inning. Lowe managed to reach third in the ninth after singling, advancing on an error, and then leading a double-steal to get the tying runs in scoring position before Ben Rotvedt popped out to end it. Lowe’s had a disappointing season overall, but has now stolen five bases in his last seven games.