OAKLAND — The Rays are facing a significant gap in their bullpen, as closer Pete Fairbanks was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right lat strain prior to Monday’s 3-0 loss to the A’s.
Fairbanks sustained the injury during Sunday’s 12-inning walk-off win that completed a sweep of the D-backs. After giving up a game-tying three-run homer in the ninth inning, Fairbanks threw another pitch and immediately signaled to the Rays’ dugout for assistance. Following a brief consultation with manager Kevin Cash and a trainer, Fairbanks left the game.
An MRI on Monday confirmed a lat strain. Cash noted that Fairbanks will likely be sidelined from throwing for 2-4 weeks, but a clearer timeline should emerge around the Rays’ next homestand starting on Aug. 30. With just six weeks left in the regular season, his return this year remains uncertain.
“We’ll know more around the time we return from this road trip, based on how he’s feeling,” Cash said. “We’ll be cautious and see if we can build him back up, but first, we need to let it heal. There’s not much we can do besides rest and some treatment.”
Fairbanks previously dealt with a similar lat strain in 2022, which caused him to miss roughly half the season after injuring it during Spring Training.
Before struggling in the series against the D-backs—where he gave up five runs in 1 2/3 innings—Fairbanks had been in top form, not allowing a run in nine outings prior. His presence has been crucial to a Rays bullpen that, entering Monday, had the second-best ERA (2.28) in the Majors since the All-Star break, even after trading setup man Jason Adam to the Padres at the deadline.
Cash hinted that he may not immediately appoint a temporary closer during Fairbanks’ absence. Instead, he mentioned the emergence of Edwin Uceta and Manuel Rodríguez as reliable high-leverage options while the team navigates the ninth inning.
However, the restructured bullpen wasn’t tested on Monday, as the Rays were shut out for the sixth time this season.
Tampa Bay fell behind early after JJ Bleday launched a two-run homer off starter Taj Bradley in the first inning. Despite a recent rough stretch, Bradley bounced back, recording his first quality start since July 25, holding the A’s to three runs across six innings.
The bullpen delivered two scoreless innings after Bradley, but the Rays’ offense struggled, managing only two hits—tying a season low.
“Today was better than my past three outings, so I’m happy with that,” Bradley said after the game. “It was a hard-fought game, and I’m glad I put up a quality start. Now, I’m focused on continuing to improve.”
With Tampa Bay trailing late but still within striking distance, Cash turned to lefty Richard Lovelady in the seventh and right-hander Joel Kuhnel—who was recalled to replace Fairbanks—in the eighth.
Besides Uceta and Rodríguez, Garrett Cleavinger, Kevin Kelly, and Colin Poche are also potential options to handle save situations in Fairbanks’ absence. All five relievers should be fresh and ready should the Rays need them on Tuesday.
Replacing an arm like Fairbanks isn’t easy, but given how dominant the Rays’ bullpen has been in the second half, they should be able to find a way to share the load.
“It’s a big loss, no doubt,” Cash said. “[Fairbanks is] not someone we can replace with just one guy. We’re going to need a collective effort from the whole group.”
