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Pete Fairbanks 2022 Player Outlook: Shoulder Injury Sees Rays Reliever Set To Miss Large Chunk Of Season
3 years agoPete Fairbanks was diagnosed with a partial lat tear in his shoulder this Spring and is being shut down from throwing for six weeks. The plan is to re-evaluate things after the six weeks and then if cleared, he can start building up to a return for the Rays. That makes a late-June return seem the best-case scenario and comes on the back of a season in which two injuries limited Fairbanks to 42.2 IP. When healthy, Fairbanks was effective with a 3.59 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, five saves and 56 Ks. While his 29.6% K% was in the 85th percentile among pitchers last year, his 11.1% BB% was in the 17th percentile and goes a long way to explaining that elevated WHIP. Fairbanks had an 11.1% BB% in his 47.2 IP prior to 2021 so it shouldn't have come as a surprise that he had control issues. And given the Rays desire to have a fluid bullpen in which 14 different pitchers registered saves last season and the team lead in saves (Diego Castillo) was traded in July, it's difficult to see Fairbanks as being a viable option in fantasy. In addition to his five saves last year, Fairbanks did have 14 holds so could be a solid option in leagues counting holds when he returns. But health and control issues leave question marks over his effectiveness as a fantasy pitcher.
