Rays bullpen woes grow with Mason Englert injured, Edwin Uceta delayed

Monday was a rough day for the Rays pitching staff even before the game started, with another pitcher injured and additional issues for two who previously were sidelined.

• Reliever Mason Englert, who has played a key swing role in the bullpen, was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right forearm tightness.

• High-leverage reliever Edwin Uceta, who was rehabbing from spring right shoulder inflammation, was diagnosed with a new shoulder injury, a strain of the subscapularis muscle, which could sideline him at least six weeks.

• Starter Ryan Pepiot, already sidelined until late May due to inflammation in his right hip, had what manager Kevin Cash called "a bad day" as the hip felt unstable while playing catch.

Englert's injury had the most immediate impact, as he was second on the team in relief innings (12 1/3) and appearances (nine, tied with three others). The Rays called up Triple-A right-hander Trevor Martin, who made his big-league debut in the sixth inning.

Cash said Englert's injury was "unfortunate" but they were "not overly concerned" as initial imaging "looked pretty good." He will be shut down from throwing for three to four days, then built back up into the multi-inning role he fills well.

Englert said that for about the last week it was taking increasingly longer than usual for his elbow to loosen as he started warming up or playing catch.

After throwing 16 pitches on Saturday night and 38 over two-plus innings Sunday, he met with team officials and they decided to place him on the injured list.

"The early stuff looks like it's going to be in a good spot. It's nothing too concerning or too major," Englert said. "It's not a big deal, it just needs a second to chill."

Uceta was heading to what was supposed to be the final stages of rehab from the spring inflammation when he reported soreness in different area of his shoulder.

Cash said he will be shut down from throwing for two to three weeks, and then built back up. That likely means it will be at least six weeks until he pitches in the majors.

Cash didn't have any additional information on Pepiot, who is on the 60-day IL through at least May 24. "He's not feeling good with his hip," Cash said. "It didn't go great (Monday), not feeling stable with his hip."

Lefty reliever Garrett Cleavinger, another key high-leverage option, is slated for at least three more rehab outings with Durham through Sunday. He has been out since March 31 due to right calf tightness.

Second baseman Gavin Lux is expected to resume his rehab for a right shoulder impingement Tuesday or Wednesday, having been sidelined since rolling his left ankle April 11.

Martin makes debut

Martin, a 25-year-old who was a 2022 third-round pick from Oklahoma State, said he was at a loss for words when Durham manager Morgan Ensberg told him Sunday afternoon he was going to the big leagues.

After working 2 1/3 innings, allowing one run, on Monday night in his debut, he found a few.

"It's a moment that you've kind of been waiting for since, like, you were 6 years old," Martin said. "I talked to someone in the dugout after that, I was like, ‘You dream about it from the time you're 6 ‘til now, and then now it's the day.' So just kind of get out there and do what you've been trying to do your whole life."

His wife, Hanna, and his parents, April and Michael (who nervously made his first-ever flight), made it from their Oklahoma homes for the game, as did some other relatives and friends.

"They were just super happy, super proud, because they know the journey that it's been from the time I was young to now, to be able to be a big-leaguer," Martin said.

To add Martin to the 40-man roster, the Rays shifted recently signed right-hander Michael Grove, who is recovering from March 2025 shoulder surgery, from the 15- to 60-day IL.

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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 5:58 PM.