Marlins' Pete Fairbanks: Completes bullpen session
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Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said that Fairbanks (hand) threw a "very encouraging" 13-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, Jeremy Tache of Marlins.tv reports.
Fairbanks was able to get back on the mound for the first time since Miami placed him on the 15-day injured list April 28 due to nerve irritation in his right hand. Though Fairbanks had a similar occurrence of nerve irritation back in the 2024 season with the Rays and ended up missing about three weeks, the Marlins are hopeful that the veteran reliever will be ready to return from the shelf in close to the minimum 15 days. Fairbanks' ability to complete a side session is a promising step toward meeting that goal, and he's set to throw again Friday before Miami determines his next steps, per MLB.com.
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Marlins' Pete Fairbanks: Placed on injured list
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The Marlins placed Fairbanks (hand) on the 15-day injured list Tuesday due to nerve irritation.
Fairbanks exited Monday's contest against the Dodgers after losing feeling in his right hand, and he said after the game that it was similar to the nerve issue he dealt with back in April 2024 while he was with the Rays. He was out for about three weeks then, though the Marlins are optimistic that he won't miss more than the minimum 15 days this time around, per Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. In the meantime, Anthony Bender, Andrew Nardi, Calvin Faucher and Tyler Phillips will all be options to pick up saves for the Marlins, and Cade Gibson will come up from Triple-A Jacksonville to round out the bullpen.
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Marlins' Pete Fairbanks: Could be dealing with nerve issue
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Fairbanks described the issue that forced him out of Monday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers as numbness in his pitching hand, a potential recurrence of the nerve issue that sidelined him in April 2024 during his time with the Rays, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports. "Just a lot of diminished sensation," Fairbanks said after the game. "Felt like any movement of the wrist would exacerbate just loss of sensation in the index finger. So we'll see where it goes and how to work on it."
The right-hander was sidelined for about three weeks in 2024 when the issue first surfaced, but Fairbanks went on to have a strong season for Tampa Bay once he returned, converting 23 of 27 save chances with a 3.57 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 45.1 innings. For however long Fairbanks is unavailable this time around, the Marlins will likely take a committee approach to the ninth inning, with Anthony Bender, Tyler Phillips, Andrew Nardi and Calvin Faucher all options to close out games depending on matchups.
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Marlins' Pete Fairbanks: Battling thumb injury
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Fairbanks left Monday's game against the Dodgers with a right thumb injury, Fish on First reports.
Manager Clayton McCullough described Fairbanks' injury as an "unusual sensation" in the right-hander's thumb, resulting in his removal from the matchup. McCullough also noted that Fairbanks will be evaluated further, at which point another update should surface. Anthony Bender could be asked to handle save opportunities until Fairbanks is cleared to return.
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Marlins' Pete Fairbanks: Leaves with unspecified injury
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Fairbanks left Monday's game against the Dodgers due to an undisclosed injury, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
Fairbanks worked his way into a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth inning, and after receiving a visit from the team trainer, he would walk off the field having retired only one batter on 23 pitches. He can be considered day-to-day until more information on his injury surfaces. Tyler Phillips was called on to attempt to salvage the save chance following Fairbanks' departure.
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Marlins' Pete Fairbanks: Locks down third save
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Fairbanks earned the save Sunday against the Brewers, tossing a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts.
Fairbanks was dominant in the ninth, striking out the first two batters he faced on just three pitches each before inducing a groundout to secure the victory. It was the right-hander's third save of the season. After allowing three runs in back-to-back appearances to begin April, Fairbanks has now posted consecutive perfect frames, reinforcing that his role as the primary closer should remain secure.
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Marlins' Pete Fairbanks: Blows save, takes loss Tuesday
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Fairbanks (0-1) blew the save and took the loss during Tuesday's game against Atlanta. He allowed three runs on three hits while striking out one batter across one inning.
The Marlins brought out Fairbanks for the bottom of the eighth while holding a 5-3 lead. He retired two of the first three batters he faced before loading the bases, and he was unable to get out of the frame unscathed after yielding a bases-clearing double to Dominic Smith. Fairbanks collected a save in two of his first three outings of the season while striking out five batters across three innings. However, he has allowed three earned runs in each of his last two appearances. If Fairbanks can't figure out his command, then that might force the Marlins look to other closing options out of the bullpen such as Michael Petersen, Tyler Phillips, Calvin Faucher or Anthony Bender.
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Marlins' Pete Fairbanks: Back from paternity leave
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The Marlins activated Fairbanks from the paternity leave list Thursday.
Fairbanks missed the first three games of the series against the Reds as he welcomed a new addition to the family, but he'll be available for the series finale Thursday. The veteran closer has permitted three runs with a 6:1 K:BB over his first four innings this season, collecting a pair of saves along the way.
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Marlins' Pete Fairbanks: Notches second save
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Fairbanks earned the save in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Rockies, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
Fairbanks was called on to protect a one-run lead in the ninth and needed just nine pitches to do so. He could be unavailable Sunday after notching saves on back-to-back nights, but the 32-year-old appears to have a firm grip on the closer's role following a strong start with his new club.
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Marlins' Pete Fairbanks: Bags first save with Miami
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Fairbanks gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his first save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Rockies.
The Marlins' new closer allowed a one-out single to T.J. Rumfield, but he induced weak contact from Jordan Beck and Brenton Doyle to end the night. Fairbanks racked up 75 saves over the last three seasons for the Rays before inking a one-year, $13 million deal with the Marlins in December, and his ability to stay healthy might be the only thing standing between him and his first career 30-save campaign.
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Marlins' Pete Fairbanks: Lands in Miami on one-year deal
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Fairbanks and the Marlins agreed Wednesday on a one-year, $13 million contract, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Tampa Bay declined Fairbanks' $11 million club option for 2026 earlier this offseason, but the reliever ended up securing an extra $2 million after hitting the open market. The deal also includes a $1 million signing bonus and another $1 million in appearance-based incentives, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The Marlins took a committee approach to the closer position in 2025, but Fairbanks' contract should give him some security as the Marlins' preferred ninth-inning man heading into spring training. Though staying healthy has often been an issue for Fairbanks throughout his career, he continued to pitch effectively in his age-31 season in 2025, logging a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 59:18 K:BB while converting 27 of 32 save chances across 60.1 innings with the Rays.
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Pete Fairbanks: Club option declined
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The Rays declined Fairbanks' $11 million club option for 2026 on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Fairbanks will instead receive a $1 million buyout from the Rays and look to the free-agent market for his next opportunity. The 31-year-old right-hander delivered one of the best seasons of his career in 2025, finishing the regular season with a 2.83 ERA and 1.04 WHIP through 60.1 innings while collecting a career-high 27 saves. His reliability in high-leverage situations should attract plenty of interest in free agency.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Grabs 27th save
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Fairbanks earned the save in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Blue Jays, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
Called upon to protect a one-run lead, the right-hander locked down his 27th save of the season with ease, continuing his bounce-back form after a rocky stretch in which he allowed six earned runs over seven appearances. Since then, Fairbanks has gone four straight outings without allowing a hit, converting three saves in that span. The 31-year-old now sports a 2.98 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 58:18 K:BB across 57.1 innings this season.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Registers 26th save
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Fairbanks earned a save against the Cubs on Saturday, issuing two walks and striking out two batters over a scoreless and hitless ninth inning.
Fairbanks inherited a one-run lead when he entered in the ninth inning and immediately got into trouble when he walked the first two batters he faced. The right-hander unleashed a wild pitch on the second free pass, putting the tying run on third base with nobody out. However, Fairbanks was able to recover by inducing a fielder's choice groundout followed by two punchouts. Though he's successfully converted each of his past four save chances, Fairbanks has been a bit unsteady of late, allowing three runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out six batters across his past six appearances spanning six innings.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Snares 25th save
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Fairbanks picked up the save Tuesday against the White Sox, throwing a perfect ninth inning. He did not record a strikekout.
Fairbanks snapped a streak of five consecutive outings allowing at least one hit. During that stretch, he surrendered four runs on nine hits, including three home runs, with eight strikeouts across five innings. Wednesday's save was Fairbanks' 25th of the campaign, tying his most saves in a season during his seven-year career. He has a 3.15 ERA in 54.1 innings this season.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Takes loss Saturday
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Fairbanks (4-5) allowed one earned run on two hits and one walk while striking out one across one inning to take the loss Saturday against the Guardians.
Fairbanks entered the game in the ninth inning with the score tied 2-2. He allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base, which was enough for the Guardians to push across one run. While Fairbanks wasn't hit particularly hard, he has a 4.15 ERA since the All-Star break, allowing at least one earned run in six of his last 17 appearances.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Fans two for save
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Fairbanks allowed two hits in a scoreless ninth inning to earn a save over the Nationals on Sunday. He struck out two.
Fairbanks worked around a pair of singles to escape unscathed in the 7-4 victory. He converted both of his save chances against Washington this weekend, but he's shown some shakiness lately; Fairbanks has given up four runs (three earned) on seven hits over his last five frames. Still, he owns a strong 2.81 ERA and 53:15 K:BB while converting 24 of his 29 save chances through 52 appearances.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Notches 23rd save
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Fairbanks gave up two hits and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his 23rd save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Nationals.
After blowing his fifth save of the season Wednesday, Fairbanks shook it off and fired 15 of 22 pitches for strikes in Friday's successful conversion. The right-hander has a 2.70 ERA in 10 August innings thanks to three home runs allowed, but he's otherwise been dominant with a 0.80 WHIP and 17:0 K:BB.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Blows fifth save
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Fairbanks was charged with his fifth blown save of the season in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Guardians, giving up one run on one hit in the ninth inning. He struck out two.
Brought in to protect a 3-2 lead, Fairbanks instead served up a game-tying homer to improbable hero Nolan Jones, who came into Wednesday mired in a 53-game power drought, with his last long ball having come June 13. Fairbanks has coughed up just five home runs on the season, but four of them have come in his last 10 appearances -- a stretch in which he's gone 4-for-6 in converting save chances.
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Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Hit hard in 10th inning
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Fairbanks (4-4) allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits while striking out one across one inning to take the loss Wednesday against the Yankees.
Fairbanks entered the game in the 10th inning with the score knotted at 3-3. He allowed homers to the first two batters he faced, the first pair he's surrendered in his last six appearances. While his strikeouts remain down, Fairbanks has still been very effective this season by maintaining a 2.85 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 47.1 frames.
