Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Lands on IL with nerve issue
Rotowire
The Rays placed Fairbanks on the 15-day injured list Monday with a nerve-related issue, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
The Rays haven't provided any further details regarding the injury at this time, but it would appear unrelated to the stomach issue that had idled Fairbanks over the weekend. A timetable for the reliever's return could become clearer in the coming days as more is known about his condition. Jason Adam should be first in line for saves in the Rays bullpen sans Fairbanks, though it's possible manager Kevin Cash uses more of a committee approach to the ninth inning.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Unavailable due to stomach issues
Rotowire
Fairbanks was unavailable to pitch Saturday versus the Yankees due to stomach issues, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Fairbanks wasn't even at the ballpark, as he was told to remain at the team hotel with his illness. It explains why Garrett Cleavinger was called upon for the save chance in the 10th inning Saturday (which he converted). Fairbanks has had a rocky start to the season with a 9.00 ERA and eight walks over seven innings, but he's been tagged with only one blown save. Once he feels well enough to pitch, Fairbanks still looks like the best bet to receive the Rays' next save opportunity.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Blows save, takes loss
Rotowire
Fairbanks (0-2) blew the save and took the loss Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over one inning against the Angels. He didn't generate a strikeout.
Fairbanks entered the ninth frame with a one-run advantage but was unable to come away with his fourth save of the campaign. Instead, he surrendered a pair of runs before ultimately stranding a pair of Angels in scoring position by getting Logan O'Hoppe to fly out and end the inning. Fairbanks has endured a shaky start to 2024, having given up a run in five of his eight appearances. However, Wednesday's outing marked his first blown save of the season.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Notches third save
Rotowire
Fairbanks walked one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his third save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Giants.
The right-hander once again had some trouble finding the plate, throwing only nine of 18 pitches for strikes, but he avoided any damage. Fairbanks is still trying to regain his usual velocity and topped out at 97 mph with his fastball Friday, and his 9.00 ERA and 8:6 K:BB through five innings are more than a little worrisome. Even so, he has yet to blow a save chance in 2024, and his spot at the head of the Tampa Bay bullpen doesn't appear to be in immediate jeopardy.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Nails down second save
Rotowire
Fairbanks gave up a hit and struck out three in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his second save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Angels.
The right-hander has struggled to begin the season with both velocity and results, but he topped out at 97 mph with his fastball Wednesday and looked a little more like the dominant high-leverage option the Rays are used to. Fairbanks still has a bloated 11.25 ERA through 4.0 innings and five appearances with an 8:5 K:BB, but he's 2-for-2 in converting save chances.
Fairbanks picked up the save Tuesday, allowing one run on two hits and a walk while striking out two during one inning against the Angels.
Fairbanks entered the contest with three runs of cushion but still gave fantasy managers a bit of a scare. He allowed a pair of singles -- one of which plated Aaron Hicks -- then walked Anthony Rendon to put runners on first and second with two outs when he struck out Miguel Sano. After being one of the more reliable closers in baseball last season, Fairbanks owns an awful 15.00 ERA through four appearances and could be losing his grip on the ninth-inning job after allowing at least one run three times to date.
Fairbanks (0-1) walked all three batters he faced in the ninth inning Friday and watched them all come around to score, getting tagged with the loss as the Rays fell 10-7 to the Rockies.
Tampa Bay rallied for five runs in the top of the ninth at Coors Field, creating a save situation for Fairbanks, but he couldn't find the plate and tossed only five of 17 pitches for strikes, uncorking a wild pitch along the way. After the right-hander loaded the bases, Jason Adam replaced him and served up a walkoff grand slam to Ryan McMahon. Fairbanks has been charged with four runs in 2.0 innings over his first three appearances with a 3:4 K:BB, and his fastball topped out at 96 mph Friday after averaging 97.8 mph last year. As yet there's been no indication his spot as the Rays' closer is in jeopardy, but his job security could be eroding.
Fairbanks didn't allow a baserunner and struck out two in a scoreless inning in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays.
The outing marked Fairbanks' spring debut, and he didn't disappoint. Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, he hit 98 mph with his fastball while striking out the first two batters he faced. Fairbanks is coming off an excellent 2023 season and projects to earn the majority of save chances for Tampa Bay in 2024.
