3 years agoThe Tampa Bay Rays will be without relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks (lat) for a minimum of six weeks of no throwing before being re-evaluated. He was diagnosed with a 50% tear of his lat muscle and will need at least six week to build back up when he's cleared to start throwing. It's a tough break for the 28-year-old right-hander and Tampa's bullpen, as Fairbanks won't be back with the team until at least July. Expect the Rays to place him on the 60-day injured list to begin the season. Fairbanks had a 3.59 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, five saves and 56 strikeouts in 42 2/3 relief innings for the Rays last year in a high-leverage role. With Fairbanks sidelined for likely half the season, Andrew Kittredge currently projects as the team's primary closer, but J.T. Chargois and J.P. Feyereisen could also see some ninth-inning work.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBaller
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin