ST. PETERSBURG – The Rays on Tuesday called up struggling reliever Chris Devenski and recalled right-hander Edwin Uceta from Triple-A to take his place in the loaded bullpen.
“I mean, tough decision,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said before the Rays faced the Mariners at Tropicana Field. “Devo is a professional and I think considering where our bullpen was, we really had a lot to do in Minnesota and Pittsburgh and now here. Given what happened, we just felt like we needed a fresh pitcher. It’s really upsetting to lose a guy like that. We’ll see what happens when he goes through waivers and stuff, but I certainly wish him the best. If we can get him back, that would be great.”
What “happened” was that Devenski had allowed home runs in three straight games, including Monday’s comeback win over Seattle. It was the second time this season he had such a streak.
Devenski, 33, has a 6.75 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 26 ⅔ innings in 19 appearances this season. He has issued 14 walks.
“I think there was a little inconsistency with the velocity,” Cash said. “He probably didn’t have the crispest changeup that he normally has. I think the home run has been messing him up a little bit here lately.”
Devenski signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Rays last offseason with a team option for 2025. He will now be on the waivers list for seven days and teams can trade him.
Uceta had two scoreless two-inning appearances with the Rays earlier this season. In Triple A, Uceta had a 5.77 ERA in 22 appearances. He struck out 47 in 34 1/3 innings pitched.
“He really impressed us in spring training,” Cash said. “He’s got a kind of power arm coming out of a deep slot. He can throw his fastball and slider and throw in the occasional changeup. But right now, he’s got enough coverage to last three (innings).”
The Rays bullpen had pitched 308 1/3 innings through Tuesday, the fifth-most in the major leagues.
Day 3 without Lowe, Rosario
Brandon Lowe and Amed Rosario were out of the starting lineup for the third consecutive game. Lowe broke his right pinky toe and Rosario was hit in the face by a pitch on Saturday.
Cash said both were fine.
“Both are OK. B-Lowe is much better today. That’s encouraging,” Cash said. “He’s still being treated. He was hitting in the cage (Monday). … And Rosie is OK, as far as I know. He’s probably just a little sore.”
Rosario was in the cage on Monday night, preparing to step in as a relief hitter.
Yandy stripping
Yandy Diaz is increasingly looking like the hitter who helped the Rays win the American League batting title last year. Through Tuesday, Diaz had a hit in each of his last 17 games, continuing his career-high, posting a .368 batting average with five extra-base hits and nine RBIs.
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“Maybe he’s making up for some lost time,” Cash said of Diaz’s recovery after a slow start to the season. “I certainly hope he doesn’t put pressure on himself to carry a lot, but we know that when Yandy is on form, that’s what he does for our offense. He’s at the top of the lineup, gets on base a lot, has good at-bats and the hits have kind of gone along with that.”
Pittsburgh’s Brian Reynolds had the longest winning streak (21 games) in the Major League before Tuesday’s games.
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