ST. PETERSBURG – The Rays got closer on Monday Peter Fairbanks on the 15-day injured list due to an unspecified nerve problem.
Manager Kevin Cash said Fairbanks underwent two neck and shoulder tests, which “seemed to be fine,” and that he would be sent for additional tests to look for problems further down his arm.
“We’ll continue to check boxes to see if we can refine the outcome,” Cash said. “I don’t know where it’s going to go, but I felt like it was time to put him down and do some images from his neck to his shoulder, down to his fingers, to see if we can see anything.”
Fairbanks last pitched Wednesday, when he missed a save allowing two runs on three hits and two walks in the ninth inning of a 5-4 loss to the Angels at Tropicana Field. The 30-year-old right-hander was visibly frustrated after the outing, saying it was “generally crap” and calling his performance “like overall bullshit.”
Fairbanks did not pitch last weekend at Yankee Stadium because of a stomach issue that forced him to stay at the team hotel Friday. He showed up at the stadium to play catch Saturday and felt “a little zinger in his hand just playing catch,” Cash said, then spent the rest of the day receiving treatment.
“We were still optimistic that he would be ready to go on Sunday,” Cash said, “but it happened again on Sunday before the game.”
Fairbanks previously suffered from Raynaud’s syndrome, which affects blood flow to the fingers and affects his grip on the ball, usually in cold weather. His IL assignment was made retroactive to Friday. The Rays recalled reliever Kevin Kelly to take his place on the active roster.
It’s been a rough start to the season for Fairbanks, one of the Majors’ best late-inning relievers when healthy in recent years. He allowed eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and eight walks while striking out 10 in seven innings, with three saves and two losses in eight appearances. Cash didn’t think his current problem was a factor in his previous appearances.
“I think he would have said something immediately afterward, but he didn’t,” Cash said.
The Rays bullpen got off to a similarly disastrous start, but has stabilized a bit over the past week. In their final six games heading into Monday’s series opener against the Tigers, Rays relievers posted a 0.77 ERA with 21 strikeouts and six walks while holding opponents to a 0.157 average. (13 for 83); Fairbanks was charged with both earned runs allowed during that stretch.
“I think it was just a matter of time. I think everyone in the clubhouse, in the building here, had confidence in all the guys to do it right and just knew that you’re going to go through times like that,” left-hander Colin Poche said.
“It seemed like everyone was going through a tough time at the same time. So we knew that once we started moving things in the right direction, everything would fall into place.
Fairbanks had served as a fairly traditional closer for the Rays over the past two seasons, but the Rays are unlikely to directly replace him in that role. Cash said they will be “largely matchup-based,” mixing and matching their relievers based on who is available.
Right-hander Jason Adam, Pocket and free agent Phil Maton should see most of the late-inning work, although left-hander Garrett Cleavinger recorded his first Major League save when pitching the 10th inning in the Rays game. 2-0 victory Saturday at Yankee Stadium. Shawn Armstrong, Chris Devenski and Kelly also have high-leverage experience.
“You can’t replace Pete. You can’t replace what he brings to this team on the mound and in a leadership role, so it’s obviously going to be tough without him,” Poche said. “But we think we have a lot of players talent behind him and that we can kind of fill that gap until he comes back hopefully at the end of the 15 days.”
Kelly played a key role in Tampa Bay’s bullpen as Draft Rule 5 rookie last season, putting up a 3.09 ERA in 67 innings in 57 appearances. He broke camp with Triple-A Durham and made four appearances for the Rays earlier this month, allowing four runs on six hits and one walk in 4 2/3 innings.
