Pete

Fairbanks

Fairbanks missed the beginning of the Reds’ series to be with his growing family, but he will return in time for the final game of the series. Make sure he’s back in your lineups.

It wasn’t easy, but Petersen got the job done with Pete Fairbanks still away from the club on paternity leave. The 31-year-old journeyman was summoned to face the bottom of Cincinnati’s lineup with a three-run lead and immediately got into hot water by surrendering back-to-back infield singles. He recorded two quick outs before striking out Matt McLain to preserve the win.

Congrats to Pete and his growing family. He will likely be out for the next three days before returning to the team. Calvin Faucher and Anthony Bender should close while Fairbanks is out.

Fairbanks is expected to hit the paternity list following Sunday’s game as he joins his wife to welcome a new addition to their family. With the start of the game being delayed by rain though, they’ll make sure he gets his work in early before leaving. Fantasy managers should plan to be without him for the first couple of days next week.

Fairbanks was already set to enter a four-run game for his first outing since notching back-to-back saves Friday and Saturday when Miami added three insurance runs in the eighth to effectively put the game away. The 32-year-old stopper remains firmly entrenched as the Marlins’ primary closer and has looked extremely sharp in the early stages of the season.

Fairbanks picked up the save in back-to-back games, so the 32-year-old will get a day of rest for the finale against Colorado. Anthony Bender or Calvin Faucher would likely get the ninth inning if a save opportunity is presented.

Fairbanks took the mound with a one-run lead in the ninth to close it out against Colorado. He induced a pop-up, struck out one batter, and got a fly out to secure the win and convert his second save of the season in as many games.

Fairbanks is officially one-for-one in save opportunities as a member of the Marlins. the veteran righty allowed just one hit in a scoreless ninth inning and ended the game with a line drive out to short. Fairbanks saved 27 games for the Rays last season and figures to be the regular closer for the Marlins in 2026 as long as he can stay healthy.

Not great is that his velocity today was the worst it’s been this spring. He averaged 95.6 mph with his fastball, down from 96.5 mph in his first three outings and 97.3 mph last year. Weirder than that, though, was that his two changeups today checked in at 89.5 mph and 88.8 mph. His changeups last year averaged 94.2 mph. It’s quite possible Fairbanks is still just easing into things, but given his injury history, it seems like something to watch.

Fairbanks’ fastball velocity was down by one mph and his breaking ball velocity was down 2-4 mph in this unusually early spring appearance. Whether he was coming off an injury or just being brought along slowly by the Rays, Fairbanks hadn’t pitched in a game this early in the spring since 2020. He’s never thrown more than 5 2/3 innings in a single spring, but it appears the Marlins are going to use him more than that.