The Rays’ 8-7 extra-innings win over the Diamondbacks as we speak got here at an unlucky price, as each Pete Fairbanks and Yandy Diaz left the sport as a consequence of accidents. Fairbanks’ harm is the extra critical matter, as supervisor Kevin Money instructed reporters (together with Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Instances) that the nearer suffered an obvious lat pressure, and shall be headed to the 15-day injured record. Diaz needed to go away the sport after being hit in his left elbow with a pitch, however Money mentioned the infielder is day after day since X-rays and an MRI of Diaz’s elbow have been each destructive.
Extra shall be recognized as soon as Fairbanks undergoes exams, however relying on the severity of the pressure, it’s potential Fairbanks would possibly’ve thrown his final pitch of the 2024 marketing campaign. This shall be his second IL stint of the season, after he missed round three weeks earlier this yr coping with a nerve entrapment situation.
Fairbanks allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning of labor as we speak, and that rocky efficiency will enhance his ERA as much as 3.57 over 45 1/3 frames. Sunday’s injury-marred outing apart, Fairbanks has pitched fairly properly in his second season as Tampa Bay’s nearer, as he has transformed 23 of 27 save alternatives. Fairbanks’ 23.5% strikeout charge is barely above common and his 8.9% stroll charge is on the excessive aspect, although a .267 BABIP has helped paper over these middling metrics.
Many of the injury in opposition to Fairbanks occurred previous to his first IL stint, as he posted a 1.91 ERA in his first 37 2/3 innings after recovering from the nerve entrapment issues. The Rays used a bullpen-by-committee strategy to save lots of conditions when Fairbanks was sidelined that first time, and the staff will in all probability undertake that very same tactic once more. Jason Adam has been Tampa Bay’s only reliever general, although Money would possibly deploy him in high-leverage conditions at any level late in a sport, quite than particularly simply holding leads within the ninth inning.
Diaz was hit on the elbow in his very first at-bat of the sport, forcing Christopher Morel into the lineup as a early substitute. Given the excellent news about his preliminary exams, it might be that Diaz would possibly return after only a day or two off to get better from any swelling, however the Rays will naturally be cautious about one in every of their key bats. Diaz’s .273/.329/.396 slash line over 498 PA is properly beneath his manufacturing from 2022-23, however he’s one other participant who has began to get it collectively after a gradual begin —- Diaz had hit .301/.340/.445 in his earlier 253 PA getting into as we speak’s motion.
These accidents will make the Rays’ uphill climb in direction of a playoff berth even steeper. Regardless of shifting numerous veteran expertise on the commerce deadline, as we speak’s win moved Tampa Bay again above the .500 mark to 62-61, and the membership is 6.5 video games again of the final AL wild card spot.
