Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Pete Fairbanks picked up his 20th save of the season on Wednesday when he closed out the 3-1 victory against the Boston Red Sox. The only damage was a one-out single, and he struck out a pair in the ninth inning. Fairbanks has been exceptional again in 2023, posting a 2.41 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 34.0% strikeout rate over 37 1/3 innings. Despite pitching for the Rays, the 29-year-old should be viewed as the closer and fantasy managers can expect another handful of saves before the season's over.

Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks fired a scoreless ninth inning on one hit with three strikeouts for his 16th save of the season in Thursday's 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies. The 29-year-old fanned Alan Trejo before allowing a single to get the tying run to the plate. Fairbanks proceeded to quickly dispatch a few pinch-hitters to preserve the lead and secure a series sweep. The flame-throwing right-hander shows a 2.56 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 41:15 K:BB during 31 2/3 frames this year. Fairbanks has converted 16 out of 17 save opportunities in 2023 and remains Tampa Bay's go-to stopper.

It wasn't a clean outing, but Tampa Rays relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks was able to pick up his 15th save of the season in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Cardinals. Fairbanks came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by three. He got the first out on a flyout, allowed a solo home run, and got the final two outs on a groundout and a strikeout. Despite the Rays' history of mixing and matching their bullpen use, Fairbanks has mostly served as the team's primary closer when healthy this season. He has converted all but one save opportunity with a 2.00 ERA and a 10.67 K/9 rate. His seemingly increased role security gives Fairbanks even more fantasy value in all leagues.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Pete Fairbanks earned his 14th save of the season when he closed out the 5-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday. The 29-year-old came into the contest with two outs in the ninth and struck out the only batter he faced. Fairbanks now owns a 1.80 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 30.3% strikeout rate over 25 innings and has recorded five saves since the beginning of July. Fantasy managers should expect him to remain the number one ninth-inning option out of the Rays bullpen and continue to build on another strong season.

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks picked up his 12th save of the season in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Marlins. Fairbanks came in to pitch the ninth inning up by three and delivered a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts. While he has missed some time throughout the season due to injury, Fairbanks has been excellent when healthy and has blown just one save opportunity with a 1.99 ERA and 10.32 K/9 rate. Even more encouraging, Jason Adam, who had been serving as a committee-mate has not earned a save since the middle of June. Fairbanks always seemed to have the edge, but he seems to be trending toward a traditional closer's role at this time.

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks took the loss Thursday after allowing the game-winning run to score in the top of the ninth. Fairbanks was called into a tied game after Jason Adam blew a save in the eighth, giving the former a chance to potentially cement his status as closer. Unfortunately, Fairbanks had a rough outing of his own, allowing a run on a hit and a walk, although he did strike out a pair. The 29-year-old had a scoreless streak of six appearances before this one and should still see the majority of save opportunities for the Rays, making him an elite fantasy option.

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks picked up the save on Thursday when he worked a scoreless ninth inning while picking up one strikeout in a 4-3 win over the Oakland Athletics. Fairbanks was activated from the 15-day injured list on Thursday after missing three weeks with hip inflammation and the Rays wasted no time in getting their 29-year-old stopper on the mound. Jason Adam worked the eighth inning and gave way to Fairbanks who worked a scoreless ninth to secure his sixth save of the season. Fairbanks looks to be the preferred closer option in Tampa but he will concede the occasional opportunity to Adam and company as is customary with the Rays. He now has a stellar 1.42 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 11:5 K/BB ratio over 12 2/3 innings on the season.

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks has been activated from the injured list as he returns from a hip injury. Right-hander Ryan Thompson has been optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. Fairbanks needed just one tune-up start with the team's Florida Complex League club, tossing one shutout inning while striking out two of the three hitters he faced. The flame-thrower dominated to the tune of a 1.54 ERA across 13 outings before hitting the shelf but there are some underlying concerns. His strikeout rate has dipped to just 20.4% through 11 2/3 innings while his 4.22 FIP and 4.14 SIERA suggest regression is on the horizon. However, Fairbanks should continue to be a solid source of saves at the back end of the Rays' bullpen.

Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks (hip) didn't allow a run or a hit while walking none and striking out two in an inning of work in the Florida Complex League on Monday. Fairbanks is likely to need a couple more minor-league rehab appearances before returning from left-hip inflammation. Barring a setback, fantasy managers should have him back for their lineups by the end of the week. The 29-year-old right-hander will return to being the team's primary closing option when he's ready, and he has a tidy 1.54 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, five saves and 10 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings pitched so far in 2023. Jason Adam will continue to serve as the Rays' closer until Fairbanks is reinstated from the injured list.

Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks (hip) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Monday in the Florida Complex League. Fairbanks is expected to make a few rehab appearances before the Rays activate him from the injured list, so fantasy managers can expect him to return to the big leagues by the end of this week, barring any setbacks with his injured hip. The 29-year-old right-hander had a platelet-rich plasma injection in his left hip earlier this month to deal with inflammation. When he's ready to return, Fairbanks should return to Tampa's closing role, meaning he should remain stashed in most fantasy leagues while he rehabs. He has a 1.54 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, five saves and 10 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings in 2023.

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks (hip), who is currently on the injured list with left-hip inflammation, will throw to hitters on Friday at the Florida Complex League. How that goes will determine if Fairbanks needs another minor-league rehab outing or if he could return from the injured when eligible on Monday. As long as the 29-year-old right-hander doesn't suffer a setback this weekend on the farm, he should be back for the Rays and fantasy managers next week. He has only appeared in 13 games out of the bullpen in 2023 due to injuries, but he's been great when healthy with a 1.54 ERA (4.23 FIP), five saves, 1.11 WHIP and 10 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings. Jason Adam has been serving as the closer, but Fairbanks should reclaim the role once he returns.

The Tampa Bay Rays have the best record in MLB. They are currently 39-17 and have surprised everyone with how they have played this season. Despite their promising start, they are suddenly confronted with a huge problem.Pete Fairbanks, their closer, was placed on the injured list with left hip inflammation. He suffered the injuryduring warmups on May 28thand is currently placedon the 15-day injured list.Fairbanks'absencemayrequirefantasymanagersto make changes to their lineupandthispiecewilldiscuss thenewcloserfortheAmericanLeagueleaders.https://twitter.com/RaysFanGio/status/1662887067016200201?s=20

Tampa Bay Rays Closing Pitcher

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The Tampa Bay Rays were encouraged by the results of imaging conducted on relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks' hip Tuesday, as no structural damage was revealed. Fairbanks' hip initially "locked up" as he was warming up during Sunday's game, forcing him to the 15-day injured list, according to manager Kevin Cash. The 29-year-old is set to get an injection in an attempt to decrease the inflammation and will not throw for a week. Fairbanks has pitched well this season, serving as co-closer with Jason Adam, who will likely take on a larger role in Fairbanks' absence.

The Tampa Bay Rays placed closer Pete Fairbanks (hip) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 28) on Monday with left-hip inflammation and recalled right-hander Trevor Kelley from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Fairbanks heads back to the injured list, but hopefully he'll be able to return for the Rays and fantasy managers when he's eligible on June 12. As the club's primary closer when healthy, the 29-year-old right-hander needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues. With Fairbanks on the shelf for the second time in the month of May, Jason Adam figures to operate as Tampa's top option for saves yet again. Pick him up if you're in need of saves and he's available on your league's waiver wire.

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Pete Fairbanks' hip "locked up" on him while he was warming up in the bullpen during Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fairbanks was warming up in the pen, presumably to come in for the save opportunity, before he was visited by trainers and walked off under his own power. He is receiving treatment on his hip but manager Kevin Cash told reporters he didn't have an update beyond that. The Rays should provide another update on Fairbanks on Monday.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Pete Fairbanks earned his fifth save of the season on Monday, getting the last two outs of the game to complete the 6-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. He allowed one hit and walked one but avoided any damage. Fairbanks now owns a 1.86 ERA and 1.24 WHIP but with an uncharacteristic 19.0% strikeout rate and 11.9% walk rate. The 29-year-old has the stuff to post some of the most dominant numbers in baseball and ended 2022 with a 40.2 K-BB%, so fantasy managers should keep him in their starting lineup as he continues to be the main ninth-inning option in Tampa.

The Tampa Bay Rays reinstated closer Pete Fairbanks (forearm) from the 15-day injured list on Monday and optioned right-hander Chris Muller to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Fairbanks only needed one minor-league rehab outing before returning from the injured list, and he'll be available for Tampa's next game on Tuesday against the New York Mets. The 29-year-old right-hander should immediately return to his closing duties for one of the best team's in baseball, so he needs to be rostered in all fantasy formats. Before landing on the injured list, Fairbanks had three saves, a 0.00 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and six strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings pitched over eight appearances out of the bullpen.

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks (forearm) made his first minor-league rehab appearance for Triple-A Durham on Friday night and allowed a run on one hit while walking none and striking out two in two-thirds of an inning. Fairbanks threw two wild pitches as well in his 23-pitch outing. As long as the 29-year-old right-hander doesn't have any setbacks, he's fully expected to come off the injured list when eligible on Tuesday, May 16. He had picked up three saves while striking out six in 7 2/3 scoreless innings in his first eight relief appearances for the Rays, and Fairbanks will return to his closing role in Tampa when he comes off the IL. Until then, expect Jason Adam to get any save opportunities that come up.

Tampa Bay Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks (forearm) landed on the 15-day injured list on May 3 with forearm inflammation. However, the right-hander expects to be back as soon as he's eligible on May 15. It's great news for the Rays and fantasy managers, as Fairbanks has yet to allow a run in 7.2 innings of work and has collected three saves. His 19.4% strikeout rate and 12.9% walk rate are not close to the marks he owned in 2022 (43.7% strikeout rate and 3.4% walk rate), but he has the stuff to once again be one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball when he returns.

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks (forearm) has landed on the 15-day injured list due to right forearm inflammation. The move is retroactive to April 30 while Chase Anderson, who the club traded for on Wednesday, has been selected from the minors. It's obviously a tough blow for the Rays as Fairbanks has pitched 7 2/3 innings of scoreless ball so far this season despite producing a 6.5% K-BB% that is well below the monstrous 40.2% clip he posted in 24 appearances last season. Any issue with the forearm is obviously a notable concern, especially for Fairbanks who has already undergone a pair of Tommy John surgeries in his pro career. It's the second straight season Fairbanks has dealt with injury issues after throwing just 24 innings a season ago.