By Emily McLaughlin
Pete Fairbanks, the Tampa Bay Rays pitcher was placed on the 15-day injury list due to a lat strain during Sunday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, potentially ending his 2024 season.
After allowing a game-tying, three-run homer, Fairbanks signaled to the Tampa Bay dugout that he needed to be checked. After manager Kevin Cash and an athletic trainer checked with him, Fairbanks left the game.
Before Fairbanks called for a check-in, the Rays were 6-3 in the top of the ninth. Giving up a single to Jake McCarthy, Fairbanks gave a walk to Joc Pederson that put two players on base. Adrian Del Castillo hit a 406-foot, three-run home to tie the score to 6-6.
Before calling Cash and the athletic trainer, Fairbanks gave up a single to Geraldo Perdomo.
Garrett Cleavinger took over for Fairbanks immediately after leaving the game in the 9th inning. Kevin Kelly pitched in the 11th inning followed by Edwin Uceta in the 12th.
Closing the game against the Diamondbacks, Dylan Carlson hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 12th inning for the Rays. In the unfortunate turn of events for Fairbanks, the Rays captured the win against the Diamondbacks with an 8-7 lead.
For Fairbanks, there are more tests to be done, but MLB Trade Rumors said, “It is a possibility Fairbanks might’ve thrown his last pitch of the 2024 campaign.”
After leaving the game, Fairbanks was tested for an MRI exam on Monday in St. Petersburg. Fairbanks was diagnosed with a right lat strain.
For Fairbanks, he has experienced multiple injuries since being drafted in 2015. Fairbanks missed roughly half of the 2022 season in March with the Rays due to straining his right lat in Spring Training and did not rejoin until mid-July. Fairbanks also dealt with being on the injured list after a nerve-related issue in April.
When Fairbanks was injured before, the Rays stimulated a bullpen-by-committee approach. The bullpen-by-committee approach allows teams to have multiple pitchers instead of a singular closer for the ninth inning.
The Rays are suspected of picking Manuel Rodríguez, Edwin Uceta, Garrett Cleavinger, and Colin Poche. Uceta has the highest SV+HLD ranking and will be the highest choice as the closer from now on while Fairbanks is on the injury list. However, the Rays will have a better timeline once they return from their three-city road trip at the end of August.
Cash said on mlb.com, “It’s a big absence, there’s no doubt. Fairbanks is probably not a guy that we’re going to be able to replace with one guy. We’re going to need a pretty collective group effort.”
Fairbanks’ time with the Rays has benefitted him with converting a 23-of-27 saving opportunities. Fairbanks’ strikeout rate is slightly above average with a 23.5% and an 8.9% walk rate. With Fairbanks’ performance on Sunday’s game, he will have an earned run average (ERA) of 3.57 over 45 ⅓ frames.
Cash said on YaSports regarding Fairbanks, “We’ll be cautious with everything, and then see if we can build him back up. We’ve got to let it heal for a little bit. Not much you can do other than rest it.”