Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash announced that struggling closer Pete Fairbanks has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to nerve-related issues before their game against the Detroit Tigers. Fairbanks has been dealing with numbness in his fingers on and off for the past few years, and the problem resurfaced over the weekend.
Fairbanks experienced discomfort while playing catch on Saturday, receiving treatment throughout the day. Despite hoping he would be ready to play on Sunday, the issue persisted before the game. The team underwent some tests on his shoulder and arm, with more testing scheduled to help identify the root of the problem.
With Fairbanks out, reliever Kevin Kelly from Triple-A Durham was called up to fill his roster spot. In his absence, the Rays plan to rotate different pitchers like Colin Poche, Jason Adam, Shawn Armstrong, and Garrett Cleavinger in the closer role based on matchups. Fairbanks has struggled this season, posting a 9.00 ERA in eight games, allowing eight runs in seven innings.
