Rays 3, Marlins 2: Putting the WIN in Edwin

Welcome back Yandy Diaz and Edwin Uceta to the land of the living, as both lift the Rays over the Marlins in the series clincher.

Yandy Diaz and Edwin Uceta have been with the team the entirety of the 2025 season. Today, for what feels like the first time, they finally arrived.

Both players have struggled so far in 2025. Yandy being well below the standard on base machine we have come to know and love from one of the franchise’s finest pure hitters, still floating in the 90s of wRC+ and sub .700 OPS. Uceta on the other hand has been more or less an unmitigated disaster. 5.26 ERA and 6.38 FIP almost don’t do it justice for the shakiness Uceta has shown throughout most of his appearances.

Two months into the season and the fears were creeping in. Yandy turned 33, coming of a 2024 campaign which was a largely down year for him, it’s reasonable to worry about whether father time was starting to claim yet another victim. With Uceta it’s reasonable to wonder if his stellar 2024 was a blip that was more outlier than corner turned.

One game does not erase those fears, but it certainly helps to offer a welcome counter point to those questions.

The Yandy Man Can

With the Rays facing a 2-0 deficit and the bats largely unable to break through the Marlins bullpen day to that point, Yandy Diaz stepped to the plate in the 5th and promptly tied the game with a classic Yandy oppo field dong.

Yandy Diaz would go 3-4 on the day, with all 3 of his hits going over 100 MPH on exit velocity. The hardest hit ball by Yandy today was a 107 MPH double over the LF glove in the 8th which proved to be as vital a hit as the home run. With the score still tied 2-2, Kevin Cash went to the bench for a pinch runner for Yandy, bringing in reigning AL SB champ and current 2nd place in SB in the AL: Jose Caballero. Cabby is a pinch runner not a pinch stander, so after taking a pitch to time former Ray Calvin Faucher, Caballero took off and stole 3rd easily for his 21st stolen base of the season.

Caballero’s stolen base proved huge, as he was in position to test a short fly ball from Brandon Lowe and scamper home to give the Rays a 3-2 heading to the 9th.

Uceta is ALIVE!

Kevin Cash as a manager is fearless when it comes to his bullpen management. Throughout his career, he will put rookies into huge spots, a recent call up will get the 9th for the save chance, and he will gladly keep trusting guys he believes can get those big outs even when they are struggling.

I’ll admit, the last guy I want to see come out of the bullpen this year has been Edwin Uceta. There’s been traffic each time he comes in, and even his good appearances have been tight rope walking that teetered on the edge of a knife.

Cash true to form called in Uceta to start the 8th. Today, finally, after waiting all season for the 2024 Edwin Uceta to arrive, we got that Uceta.

Uceta would throw a perfect 8th, mowing down the Marlins with a weak groundout and 2 Ks. After the Rays were able to get the lead in the bottom half, Uceta would return for the 9th.

Edwin Uceta would reward the confidence with another clean inning, ending the 2 IP appearance with a K and an shout of relief.

6 whiffs, 3 Ks, 6 outs, and zero base runners. Hopefully a huge turning point that can give Uceta the confidence to get back on track.

Rasy Award

Drew Rasmussen started the game 2 innings away from a Rays team record for scoreless inning streak. Unfortunately, that would end in the 1st with some unfortunate defense and fortunately lucky well placed hits for the Marlins.

While the streak ended, Rasmussen’s strong pitching did not.

Rasmussen would get through 6 innings, surrendering just 2 ERs. While not his most dominant self, only 3 Ks and plenty of hard hit contact, Rasy showcased some true top of the rotation pitching by working through the Marlins lineup and giving the Rays another quality start and chance to win.

Rays take the home series victory over the Marlins, and move to 5-1 on this homestand.