BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues
ROSTERED IN: 32% of leagues
ANALYSIS: Pete Fairbanks was an instrumental component of the Rays' ingenious 2020 bullpen that helped bring another pennant back to Tampa Bay, and at the age of 27, the 6'6, 225-lb. Mizzou alumnus is getting better in all of the right ways. While his results on the mound were phenomenal last season, this was also the case for many of his teammates, and so he ended up with a 6-3 record, seven holds, yet zero saves in three opportunities.
This year, while the Rays relief core remains elite, Fairbanks has worked to set himself apart in the high-leverage moments, and as of Friday has netted one win, three saves in four tries, and eight holds (the latter two already being career-highs), with a 2.04 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 2.43 FIP in 17.2 IP over 20 outings. While his strikeout rate is down and he is still walking batters at an 11.5% clip, he is only allowing 26.5% hard contact and an 86.7 MPH average exit velocity, and with 73.5% of batted balls resulting in line drives or grounders, the .327 BABIP might be sustainable, but so is the home run suppression and .319 opponent slugging percentage. With Pete Fairbanks having earned his way past everyone in the Bay bullpen other than Diego Castillo, he'll be less likely to pick up wins, but is in great position to accumulate saves and holds in moderately-sized leagues.
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