Fairbanks struck out two and didn't allow a baserunner across a scoreless inning Tuesday against the Red Sox.
Fairbanks was briefly sidelined due to a cut on his throwing hand, but he returned to pitch the ninth inning of a tied game Tuesday. He showed no ill effects from the injury and has turned in two scoreless outings since returning from a nerve issue in his arm.
Lowe went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and a second run scored in Tuesday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Red Sox.
The 26-year-old outfielder connected on his first long ball of 2024 when he took Nick Pivetta deep in the first inning. Lowe is quickly making up for lost time after missing the first month-plus of the season due to an oblique strain, and in seven games since being activated from the IL he's batting .320 (8-for-25) with four doubles and a homer.
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Rays' Aaron Civale: Fans six in no-decision
Rotowire
Civale came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Red Sox, giving up three runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.
The right-hander kept Boston off the board his first time through the order, but a two-run double by Dominic Smith in the fourth inning and a solo shot by Ceddanne Rafaela in the fifth sent Civale packing after 76 pitches (53 strikes). He's failed to last more than five innings in any of his last five starts, a stretch in which he's stumbled to an 8.87 ERA and 1.71 WHIP, and his rotation spot could be in jeopardy if he doesn't turn things around by the time Ryan Pepiot (leg) and Shane Baz (elbow) are ready to rejoin the team. Civale lines up to make his next start on the road this weekend in Toronto.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Fairbanks (finger) is available for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The right-hander was unavailable Monday due to a cut on his index finger, but he's good to go for Tuesday's contest. Fairbanks was reinstated from the injured list Saturday and delivered a scoreless frame in his lone appearance since being activated.
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Rays' Austin Shenton: Sent down to Durham
Rotowire
Shenton was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
The 26-year-old will make room for Jonathan Aranda (finger) on the big-league roster. Shenton slashed .189/.318/.378 with a homer and four doubles in 44 plate appearances with the Rays.
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Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Activated from IL
Rotowire
Aranda (finger) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Aranda fractured his finger just days before Opening Day and was forced to get surgery. After completing his 4-to-6 weeks of rehab, Aranda will return to the big league roster, pushing Austin Shenton to Triple-A Durham. In 55 plate appearances with Durham, Aranda slashed .196/.327/.283 with 20 strikeouts. He should see plenty of action at designation hitter but is not in the lineup Tuesday in Boston.
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Rays' Brendan McKay: Shut down with another arm issue
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McKay will be shut down for 5-to-6 weeks after being diagnosed with a flexor/pronator strain with an accompanying UCL sprain in his left elbow, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The hope is that McKay will be able to build back up after the shutdown period and return to full baseball activities in three months. However, given the nature of the injury and McKay's history (he missed all of 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery), it's far from a guarantee. The lefty had pitched well at Double-A Montgomery this season before getting hurt, allowing just two runs (one earned) with a 17:1 K:BB over 18 innings.
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Rays' Xavier Isaac: Heating up for Hot Rods
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Isaac is slashing .257/.350/.495 with six home runs, five steals and a 27.4 percent strikeout rate through 28 games for High-A Bowling Green.
Isaac has been red-hot of late, hitting .349 with four home runs, three doubles and as many walks (eight) as strikeouts over his last 13 games. The one statistical blemish in Isaac's profile coming into the year was his mediocre performance against same-handed pitchers, and that remains a struggle, as he has a .627 OPS against lefties and a .956 OPS against righties this season. Given the 20-year-old slugger is typically a couple years younger than the pitchers he is facing, the hope is that he eventually improves against southpaws enough to play every day.
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Rays' Tyler Zuber: Latches on with Tampa Bay
Rotowire
The Rays signed Zuber to a minor-league contract Monday.
Zuber, 29, had been pitching with the independent league Long Island Ducks. He last appeared in the majors in 2021 with the Royals, collecting a 6.26 ERA and 25:17 K:BB across 27.1 frames. Zuber has a 31.4 percent strikeout rate during his time in the minors, so the Rays believe they might have something to work with. He's been assigned to Triple-A Durham.
Rays' Amed Rosario: Doubles, triples, drives in three
Rotowire
Rosario went 2-for-4 with a double, triple, three RBI and a run scored during Monday's win over the Red Sox.
Rosario's two-out, two-run triple in the first put the Rays on the board while his run-scoring double in the eighth provided the Rays with their final margin of victory. Rosario has found a regular role as the top utility man for Tampa, batting .296 with a .312 on-base percentage, six doubles, three triples, two homers, 18 RBI, 12 runs and five stolen bases over 138 plate appearances.
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Rays' Jason Adam: Grabs third save
Rotowire
Adam tossed one scoreless inning to pick up the save Monday against the Red Sox. He walked one and struck out three.
With Pete Fairbanks unavailable due to a cut on his throwing hand, Adam was called upon Monday to close the door for his third save. Adam, who served as the Rays' main end-game option while Fairbanks was on the shelf prior to his return on May 11, will likely remain the preferred option until Fairbanks is ready to return from his most recent setback.
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Rays' Zach Eflin: Earns third win
Rotowire
Eflin (3-4) earned the win Monday, allowing three runs on six hits while not walking a batter over five innings against the Red Sox. He struck out two.
Eflin was able to grind through five innings, tossing 91 pitches to earn the win for the second-consecutive start. After being staked with a three-run lead before ever taking the hill, Eflin allowed a three-run homer to Tyler O'Neill in the bottom of the first that tied the score. Despite the elevated pitch count through five, Eflin managed to keep the Red Sox off the board throughout the remainder of his start and did not allow a free pass in the process. Eflin will carry a 3.91 ERA and 1.13 WHIP into his next start, tentatively slated to take place over the weekend when the Rays travel to Toronto for a three-game set against the division-rival Blue Jays.
Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Dealing with cut on throwing hand
Rotowire
Fairbanks was unavailable to pitch Monday night against the Red Sox due to a cut on his right index finger, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Manager Kevin Cash is hopeful Fairbanks will be available out of the bullpen for Tuesday's matchup. Jason Adam handled the closer duties Monday and could be called upon again Tuesday if Fairbanks can't go.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Lacks control in second rehab start
Rotowire
Baz (elbow/oblique) worked 1.2 innings and struck out one while allowing three earned runs on one hit and five walks Friday in his second rehab start with Triple-A Durham.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Baz's control has been spotty in his first two rehab starts in his first game action since July 2022 following a prolonged recovery from Tommy John surgery and two minor setbacks with his oblique. After working three innings and spotting 22 of his 39 pitches for strikes in his start with Durham on May 4, Baz found the strike zone on just 29 of his 59 pitches Friday and also hit a batter in addition to issuing five free passes. The fact that Baz was able to increase his pitch count was a positive takeaway, but he'll still need to improve his efficiency as he continues his buildup process in the minors. Baz will presumably need at least two more rehab starts before he returns from the 15-day injured list and makes his 2024 debut with the Rays.
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Rays' Brandon Lowe: Seeing specialist Tuesday
Rotowire
Lowe said following his rehab game Sunday with Triple-A Durham that he felt "something" in his right oblique and he will visit a specialist Tuesday in Nashville, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Lowe started at second base with Durham on Sunday, going 1-for-5 with a three-run home run and striking out three times. The 29-year-old has gone 3-for-10 with two home runs and three walks over his four rehab games and appeared to be on the cusp of a return from the 10-day injured list, but his activation will be delayed while he consults with a specialist after possibly aggravating the oblique injury. Richie Palacios and Amed Rosario are expected to continue operating in a platoon at second base until Lowe is deemed ready to join the big club.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Left out of lineup Monday
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DeLuca is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
DeLuca will take a seat for the first time since returning from the 10-day injured list May 3 and making his Rays and season debuts. He had been projected to fill a short-side platoon role for Tampa Bay, but DeLuca now appears poised to handle a near-everyday role after beginning his Rays tenure with a .286/.394/.536 slash line through his first nine games. DeLuca will cede his spot in the outfield to Jose Siri on Monday, however.
