Fantasy News

• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Used in high-leverage spot

  Rotowire May 16, 2024

  Fairbanks struck out two and didn't allow a baserunner in a scoreless eighth inning to pick up a hold in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Red Sox. Fairbanks entered the game in the eighth inning to face the heart of the Red Sox order and needed only seven pitches to get through the frame. While effective, his usage was concerning given that he had pitched nearly exclusively as a traditional closer early in the season. It's unclear whether manager Kevin Cash might continue to mix and match the back end of his bullpen, but Fairbanks could lose save opportunities moving forward.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Pitches well in return

  Rotowire May 15, 2024

  Fairbanks struck out two and didn't allow a baserunner across a scoreless inning Tuesday against the Red Sox. Fairbanks was briefly sidelined due to a cut on his throwing hand, but he returned to pitch the ninth inning of a tied game Tuesday. He showed no ill effects from the injury and has turned in two scoreless outings since returning from a nerve issue in his arm.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Available Tuesday

  Rotowire May 14, 2024

  Rays manager Kevin Cash said Fairbanks (finger) is available for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The right-hander was unavailable Monday due to a cut on his index finger, but he's good to go for Tuesday's contest. Fairbanks was reinstated from the injured list Saturday and delivered a scoreless frame in his lone appearance since being activated.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Dealing with cut on throwing hand

  Rotowire May 13, 2024

  Fairbanks was unavailable to pitch Monday night against the Red Sox due to a cut on his right index finger, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Manager Kevin Cash is hopeful Fairbanks will be available out of the bullpen for Tuesday's matchup. Jason Adam handled the closer duties Monday and could be called upon again Tuesday if Fairbanks can't go.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Reinstated from IL

  Rotowire May 11, 2024

  The Rays reinstated Fairbanks (arm) from the 15-day injured list Saturday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports. Fairbanks played in two games with Triple-A Durham on his rehab assignment, and he threw one scoreless inning with a strikeout in his last outing Thursday. The right-hander joined the Rays on Friday, and he will be available for the weekend series against the Yankees. Before landing on the IL on April 22 with a nerve issue in his throwing arm, Fairbanks logged three saves in eight outings with a 9.00 ERA, 2.29 WHIP and 10:8 K:BB over seven frames.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Likely to return this weekend

  Rotowire May 10, 2024

  Rays manager Kevin Cash said Friday that Fairbanks (arm) is back with the big-league team and will likely be activated from the IL this weekend, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Fairbanks made his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Thursday and delivered a scoreless inning. The 30-year-old righty had three saves in eight appearances prior to being shut down due to an arm injury but had given up seven runs with a 10:8 K:BB through seven innings. He was Tampa Bay's primary closer in 2023, as he finished with 25 saves, a 2.58 ERA and 68 strikeouts across 45.1 IP.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Set for another rehab appearance

  Rotowire May 9, 2024

  Fairbanks (arm) will make a second rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Thursday, MLB.com reports. The Rays were uncommitted to Fairbanks' status after he made an initial rehab appearance Tuesday. Assuming Thursday's outing goes according to plan, he may be back with the team as soon as this weekend's series against the Yankees.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: May get another rehab outing

  Rotowire May 8, 2024

  Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that the team will discuss whether Fairbanks (arm) will be activated or make another rehab appearance, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Fairbanks allowed two hits but completed a scoreless inning with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday. He averaged 97.3 mph with his four-seamer in the appearance, which is up a bit from his season average. It sounds like Fairbanks could be back as soon as the weekend series against the Yankees, but that decision hasn't been announced yet.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Tests come back clean

  Rotowire Apr 27, 2024

  Fairbanks (arm) has no structural damage to his arm, MLB.com reports. Fairbanks had an MRI done Tuesday and then had unspecified additional testing done later in the week. All exams came back clean, which is good news and provides some optimism that he'll avoid a lengthy absence. However, both Fairbanks and the team have cautioned that he does not have a timeline to be activated from the injured list.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Lands on IL with nerve issue

  Rotowire Apr 22, 2024

  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.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Stumbles to first save

  Rotowire Apr 10, 2024

  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.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Can't find plate Friday

  Rotowire Apr 5, 2024

  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.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Makes spring debut

  Rotowire Mar 12, 2024

  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.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Tallies 25th save

  Rotowire Sep 27, 2023

  Fairbanks struck out the side without allowing a baserunner to earn the save Tuesday against the Red Sox. Fairbanks entered the game having blown his last two save chances while allowing three earned runs across two innings of work. He returned to dominance Tuesday, however, striking out all three batters he faced on swinging strikes. Despite his recent struggles, Fairbanks has racked up an impressive 68:19 K:BB while maintaining a 2.64 ERA and 0.99 WHIP across 44.1 innings.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Rare blown save

  Rotowire Sep 18, 2023

  Fairbanks blew the save in Sunday's 5-4 loss against the Orioles. He allowed two runs on three hits while striking out four over two innings. The Rays turned to Fairbanks in the eighth inning Sunday, when he struck out the first two batters before Adley Rutschman belted a solo homer, cutting Tampa's lead to 3-2. Fairbanks again got two quick outs in the ninth before Baltimore tied the game with a pair of two-out hits, sticking the Rays' closer with just his second blown save in his last 37 appearances. Overall, Fairbanks is now 24-for-27 in save chances with a 2.49 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 65:16 K:BB through 43.1 innings this season. He'll likely get a couple days off after throwing 39 pitches Sunday, though Fairbanks should remain one of the better closing options down the stretch.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Earns save Monday

  Rotowire Sep 11, 2023

  Fairbanks struck out one batter in a scoreless inning and picked up a save over Minnesota on Monday. Fairbanks hit one batter but still finished off the 7-4 win with a 17-pitch ninth inning. He's struck out 12 batters while converting five straight save chances during his active 5.2-inning shutout streak. His season ERA is down to 2.23 with a 58:16 K:BB and 23 saves through 44 appearances.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Snags 22nd save

  Rotowire Sep 11, 2023

  Fairbanks picked up the save Sunday against Seattle, striking out three over a perfect inning. Fairbanks closed the door on a 6-3 Tampa Bay win, striking out the side in the ninth to earn his 22nd save. It's been an impressive stretch for the 29-year-old Fairbanks -- he's converted his last four save opportunities over five scoreless appearances (4.2 innings) while adding 11 strikeouts in that span. His ERA is down to 2.29 on the season with a 0.97 WHIP and 57:16 K:BB across 39.1 innings.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Notches 21st save

  Rotowire Sep 8, 2023

  Fairbanks picked up the save in Friday's 7-4 win over the Mariners. He allowed no hits and one walk while striking out three over a scoreless inning. Fairbanks looked solid while securing Tampa Bay's 86th win of the season. The 29-year-old has dominated since the All-Star break with a 15.3 K/9. He is 2-2 with 11 saves and a 3.15 ERA in 20 innings during that span.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Nails down save No. 20

  Rotowire Sep 7, 2023

  Fairbanks gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his 20th save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Red Sox. The right-hander has been scored upon just once in his last 10 appearances, converting five of six saves over that stretch with two wins, a 0.93 ERA, a 0.83 WHIP and a 17:1 K:BB in 9.2 innings. With Jason Adam (oblique) out at least another week, the Rays will continue to lean heavily on Fairbanks as their most reliable high-leverage option in the bullpen.

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• Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Nabs extra-inning save

  Rotowire Aug 31, 2023

  Fairbanks earned a save against the Marlins on Wednesday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning. The game was scoreless until Tampa Bay scored three runs in the top of the 10th. Fairbanks entered in the bottom of the frame and made quick work of the Marlins, retiring the side in order on 10 pitches. Fairbanks has collected three saves over the past seven days, allowing just two hits and posting a 6:0 K:BB over three innings during that stretch.

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