MRI results received Tuesday on Fairbanks' left hip revealed no structural damage, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
It certainly is good news for Fairbanks, who landed on the injured list for the second time this season Monday due to inflammation in his left hip. Fairbanks will receive a cortisone injection in his hip and will be shut down from throwing for at least a week. Once the Rays see how Fairbanks responds to treatment, a clearer picture should emerge regarding a throwing program and return date.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Back to IL with hip issue
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The Rays placed Fairbanks on the 15-day injured list Monday with left hip inflammation, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
The move is retroactive to May 28, leaving Fairbanks eligible for activation June 12. It's unclear at this point whether he will be ready at that time, however. With Fairbanks on the IL for the second time this month, Jason Adam will move to the top of the Rays' bullpen pecking order.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Managing hip issue
Rotowire
Fairbanks said after Sunday's 11-10 win over the Dodgers that his hip "locked up" on him while he was warming up prior to the ninth inning, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
He appeared set to receive the save chance Sunday, but after the hip issue surfaced, the Rays opted to stick with Jason Adam, who recorded the final six outs of the afternoon en route to converting his seventh save of the campaign. Fairbanks noted that he's receiving treatment on the hip and was unsure if he would require a stint on the 15-day injured list, but more clarity on that front could arrive shortly before the Rays open their three-game series with the Cubs in Chicago on Monday.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Suffers injury while warming up
Rotowire
Fairbanks went unused in Sunday's 11-10 win over the Dodgers after he suffered an apparent injury while warming up in the bullpen prior to the ninth inning, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
After Jason Adam kept the Dodgers off the board in the eighth inning, Fairbanks appeared poised to get the save chance in the ninth. However, once the top of the ninth arrived, it was Adam who stayed in the contest for a second inning, while Fairbanks remained in the bullpen and was spotted with a trainer. The Rays may not provide another update on Fairbanks' status until prior to Monday's series opener in Chicago, but the lack of usage Sunday is certainly a worrisome sign for a pitcher who has struggled to maintain health this season. If Fairbanks requires another trip to the IL, Adam would likely be the Rays' preferred option for save situations.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Escapes with save
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Fairbanks allowed one hit and a walk while earning a save against Toronto on Monday. He recorded two outs and was not charged with a run.
Fairbanks let an inherited runner score but still secured the 6-4 win by escaping a bases-loaded jam. He's converted his last two saves after coughing up two runs and taking a loss May 17. Fairbanks owns an 8:5 K:BB with a 1.86 ERA while picking up five saves in six chances.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Secures fourth save
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Fairbanks picked up the save during Friday's 1-0 win over the Brewers, tossing a scoreless ninth in which he allowed one hit. He struck out one and did not issue a walk.
Fairbanks blew a save and took the loss in his last appearance, but he bounced back with a solid outing versus Milwaukee. He gave up a leadoff single to Jesse Winker and eventually allowed the game-tying run to reach third with two outs, but Fairbanks retired Tyrone Taylor to end the game. Fairbanks is now 4-for-5 in save chances this year and continues to operate as a co-closer with Jason Adam, who's 5-for-8 in save opportunities.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Takes loss and blown save
Rotowire
Fairbanks (0-1) took the loss and blew a save against the Mets on Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits while striking out one batter over one-third of an inning.
Jason Adam actually got the first crack at a save for the Rays in the contest, but he gave up three runs in the ninth inning to blow the opportunity and allow the game to go into extra frames. After Tampa Bay put up two runs in the top of the 10th, Fairbanks was summoned to close things out, but he took the loss when Pete Alonso crushed a walk-off three-run homer against him. This was Fairbanks' first game back after a stay on the 15-day injured list with a forearm injury, so some rust may have factored into the poor outing.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Brought back from injured list
Rotowire
The Rays reinstated Fairbanks (forearm) from 15-day injured list Monday.
Tampa Bay is off Monday, but the Rays will get their closer back for the start of their series against the Mets on Tuesday. Fairbanks required just one rehab appearance before returning from a forearm injury, which sent him to the IL back in late April. He should return to being the Rays' primary closer, although Jason Adam might also still be in the mix for the occasional save chance.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Set to return Tuesday
Rotowire
Fairbanks (forearm) is expected to be activated from the injured list Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Fairbanks gave up a hit with two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning in a rehab outing Friday for Triple-A Durham. It looks like he'll immediately move back to the top of the Tampa Bay bullpen.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Set for rehab appearance
Rotowire
Fairbanks (forearm) will throw one inning in a rehab outing with Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Fairbanks is eligible to come off the injured list May 16 and has been ramping up his activity of late. He played catch Sunday and has since progressed to the point where he can return to game action. Assuming things go well in his rehab outing, it seems likely that Fairbanks will be activated when first eligible -- or very close to it.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Plays catch Sunday
Rotowire
Fairbanks (forearm) played catch at Tropicana Field prior to the Rays' game against the Yankees, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
It's the first time Fairbanks has thrown since he went on the injured list Wednesday with right forearm inflammation. The closer is eligible to return May 16 and, given that he's already throwing, would seem to have a shot to be ready at that time. Jason Adam has been serving as the Rays' closer with Fairbanks on the shelf.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Shelved with forearm inflammation
Rotowire
The Rays placed Fairbanks (finger) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right forearm inflammation, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Fairbanks didn't come on for a save chance in Tuesday's win over the Pirates and hadn't pitched since Friday due to what the Rays had attributed to finger numbness stemming from Raynaud's Syndrome, but the forearm issue is what will end up forcing him to the shelf. The right-hander had yet to allow a run in eight appearances this season and had emerged as the Rays' primary closer, but Jason Adam looks to be first in line to headline what could be a committee approach to save situations while Fairbanks is on the shelf. If he's able to resume throwing within the next few days, Fairbanks would have a chance at being ready to pitch when first eligible around the middle of the month.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Throwing with trainer
Rotowire
Fairbanks (fingers) will complete a throwing session Saturday and could be available for the Rays' game against the White Sox, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said that he'll play the situation by ear after Fairbanks was removed from Friday's game due to numbness experienced from his ongoing Raynaud's Syndrome. While Fairbanks may not be available to pitch Saturday, it's at least encouraging that Tampa Bay isn't ready to place the right-handed stopper on the injured list just yet.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Removed with injury
Rotowire
Fairbanks was removed from Friday's game against the White Sox with a hand injury, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports. He recorded two outs without allowing a run with a walk and a strikeout before exiting.
Fairbanks told reporters that he felt numbness in his fingers before exiting, and it's worth pointing out that the right-hander dealt with Raynaud's syndrome -- something that can cause fingers to feel numb in cold weather -- in the past. Fairbanks believes he can pitch again in this series, but his status should be considered day-to-day until updated otherwise.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Closes out Red Sox
Rotowire
Fairbanks allowed one hit across a scoreless inning to earn the save Wednesday against the Red Sox.
Fairbanks entered the game with a two-run lead. He allowed a leadoff single but went on to retire the next three batters he faced to record his second save of the new season. While the Rays have provided limited save opportunities early in the new campaign, Fairbanks appears to be the team's primary closer for the time being.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Picks up first save
Rotowire
Fairbanks struck out one in a perfect ninth inning to earn a save over Boston on Monday.
Fairbanks finally got his first save chance of the season after the Rays steamrolled through their first nine games. He needed just 10 pitches to quickly finish off the Red Sox. Fairbanks has tossed three shutout innings while allowing just one hit.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Pitches in ninth inning
Rotowire
Fairbanks threw a scoreless ninth inning without allowing a baserunner in Tuesday's 10-6 win over the Nationals.
Fairbanks made his second appearance of the season, and he recorded the final three outs on only eight pitches. The Rays have yet to have a save opportunity, but Fairbanks has thrown in the ninth inning for both of his outings and appears to be in the best position to pick up saves in Tampa Bay to begin the season.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Two scoreless appearances
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Fairbanks has not given up a run in his two Grapefruit League appearances.
Fairbanks has allowed just one hit so far in his two games, and he's struck out two while not issuing a walk, although he did put a runner on via a hit-by-pitch. The right-hander signed a three-year extension with the Rays in January after registering a 1.13 ERA and 38:3 K:BB over 24 innings, and he has a chance to see a good share of the save opportunities for Tampa Bay during the 2023 season.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Signs three-year extension
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Fairbanks signed a three-year, $12 million contract extension with the Rays on Friday, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Passan adds that the arbitration-covering deal includes a $7 million fourth-year club option, which could potentially secure what would have been Fairbanks' first year of free-agent eligibility. The 29-year-old right-hander again had to contend with injuries in 2022, but he dominated to the tune of a 1.13 ERA and 38:3 K:BB ratio in 24 innings when healthy. Fairbanks currently projects as the favorite for saves in Tampa Bay leading into the 2023 campaign, though history suggests the closer role will be a carousel as the season plays out. It's just how the Rays tend to operate.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Leaves with numb finger
Rotowire
Fairbanks' early exit from his appearance Saturday against the Guardians was due to a numb right index finger, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The news lines up with reports that Fairbanks told a team trainer he couldn't feel his hand as he left the game. Fairbanks had reduced velocity and minimal control in his brief outing, walking the only two batters he faced.
