Calvin Faucher latest Rays pitcher to go on injured list
ST PETERSBURG — Calvin Faucher is the latest pitcher added to the Rays’ growing injured list. The right-handed reliever said Wednesday that he has inflammation in his right triceps, just above his elbow.
“About a week ago, just kind of dealt with a little bit of triceps inflammation. We were dealing with it, and it kind of persisted,” Faucher said. “So wanted to really see what was going on, and … it came down to … triceps inflammation. So I guess just got to get a time to settle down.”
Faucher was treated and will be shut down for a few days, but the Rays hope he will be able to begin throwing after that.
“We got him an injection,” manager Kevin Cash said. “It’ll shut him down for two or three days, and then get the ball back in his hand if all feels well.”
The Rays called up Luis Patino to take Faucher’s spot on the roster and in the bullpen. They were expected to call up Yonny Chirinos before Thursday’s contest against the Twins, likely to start the second straight bullpen game. Chirinos has made seven appearances with the Rays this season, posting a 2.79 ERA. He has made one start, allowing three earned runs in 5⅓ innings for a no decision against the Yankees last month.
Patino has made 16 appearances in Triple-A Durham, including six starts, with a 7.64 ERA in that span. He last appeared in the big leagues last season, making six starts for the Rays and posting an 8.10 ERA.
“(Patino has) had plenty of struggles early on, but he’s done a nice job here as of late,” Cash said. “His velocity has kind of spiked a little bit. He’s got up to that 95-96 (mph). And we’ve pulled him back into the shorter-inning role.
“Now we’ll need an inning or maybe more this go-round, but it is nice to see him back. I feel like where we’re at bullpenwise, we want to continue to kind of protect these guys.”
This news came less than 24 hours after the Rays put lefty Josh Fleming on the injured list with elbow inflammation. The Rays had already lost lefty Jeffrey Springs for the season to a torn UCL and Tommy John surgery to repair it. Drew Rasmussen is out indefinitely with a right flexor strain.
The bullpen was already without Pete Fairbanks, who is rehabilitating from left hip inflammation.
To make room on the roster for Chirinos, the Rays were expected to option Cooper Criswell, who threw 3⅓ scoreless innings in Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over the Twins.
Lowe shut down
Brandon Lowe was shut down for all baseball activities for two to three weeks with back disc herniation. The second baseman was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Sunday. The diagnosis requires him to do no activities while trying to get the back to calm down.
“He’ll have a lot of rehab work, core work,” Cash said. “So we’ll take roughly two weeks down of him not doing any baseball activity.”
Lowe, who hit 39 homers in 2021, missed 97 games last season with a stress reaction in his lower back. The Rays said this issue is not related to that injury.
Fairbanks back on the mound
Fairbanks was scheduled to throw to hitters Friday at the Rays’ Florida Complex League site in Sarasota. He could rejoin the Rays as soon as he is eligible, Monday, but Cash said that had not been decided. “I’m not sure if we’ve decided to have him go pitch another outing after that,” Cash said. “We’ll see how he gets through the night.”
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