ST. PETERSBURG, FL: A regrettable cost of the Rays’ 8–7 victory against the Diamondbacks in extra innings today was the departure of both Pete Fairbanks and Yandy Diaz from the game due to injuries.
The more significant injury is that of Fairbanks, whose manager Kevin Cash informed reporters (including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times) that the closer will be placed on the 15-day injured list due to what seemed to be a lat strain.
After being struck in the left elbow by a pitch, Diaz had to exit the game; however, Cash stated that the infielder is only expected to be day-to-day since an MRI and X-ray of the elbow came back negative.
After Fairbanks completes tests, more information will become available, but given the severity of the strain, it's probable that Fairbanks threw his final pitch of the 2024 campaign. This will be his second spell on the injured list for the season. Earlier in the year, he missed about three weeks due to a nerve entrapment problem.
Fairbanks' rough outing today—three runs in two-thirds of an inning of work—will raise his earned run average to 3.57 over 45 1/3 innings. Despite his rough showing on Sunday, Fairbanks has performed admirably in his second year as Tampa Bay's closer, save 23 of 27 games.
Fairbanks has a walk rate of 8.9% and a strikeout rate of 23.5%, which are both somewhat over average. However, his mediocre numbers have been somewhat concealed by a.267 BABIP.
After Fairbanks recovered from his nerve entrapment issues, he posted a 1.91 ERA in his first 37 2/3 innings, which was when the majority of the damage against him happened. When Fairbanks was injured the first time, the Rays saved situations by using a bullpen-by-committee strategy, and they'll likely employ it once more.
Although Cash may use Garrett Cleavinger in high-leverage situations at any time late in a game, rather than only maintaining leads in the ninth inning, he has been Tampa Bay's most effective reliever overall.
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