Rays’ Edwin Uceta Suspended 2 Games by MLB for Throwing at Phillies’ Nick Castellanos

Major League Baseball initially suspended Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Edwin Uceta three games Wednesday for his role in the benches-clearing scuffle during Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic.

However, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times noted the suspension was reduced to two games and will begin Wednesday.

The league also suspended Rays manager Kevin Cash for one game.

Uceta struggled in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s contest and allowed five runs to score before he hit Nick Castellanos with a pitch. The benches and bullpens emptied, and the right-hander was ejected from the contest.

The game was tied at four when Uceta entered, but he allowed a two-run double to Cal Stevenson, an RBI single to Buddy Kennedy and a two-run homer to Trea Turner. Bryce Harper then doubled before Castellanos came to the plate as the inning continued to slip away from the pitcher.

Uceta was ultimately charged with three earned runs in 0.1 innings of work.

“I mean, you’re throwing a baseball over 90 mph,” Castellanos told reporters. “You’re frustrated and you’re going to throw at somebody? That’s like my two-year-old throwing a fit because I take away his dessert before he’s finished.”

Castellanos pointed at Uceta and threw up his arms in frustration, while Harper yelled at the pitcher while walking toward the mound from second base.

For his part, Uceta said he didn’t throw at Castellanos on purpose.

Tampa Bay is running out of time to make any type of realistic run in the American League playoff chase. It is six games back of the final wild-card spot with just 17 games remaining.

Despite his poor performance in Tuesday’s loss, Uceta has been largely excellent for Tampa Bay out of the bullpen this season with a 1.49 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 51 strikeouts in 36.1 innings. It will be even more difficult for the team to make up ground in the playoff race when he is out for his suspension.