Calvin Faucher latest Rays pitcher to go on injured list
ST PETERSBURG — Calvin Faucher is the latest pitcher to be added to the Rays’ growing injury list. The right-hander said Wednesday he had an infection in his right triceps, just above his elbow.
“About a week ago I just got a mild triceps infection under control. We were busy with it, and it kind of stuck,” Faucher said. “So I really wanted to see what was going on, and … it came down to … a triceps infection. I guess I just need to find a time to calm down.”
Faucher has been treated and will be sidelined for a few days, but the Rays hope he can start throwing again afterwards.
“We gave him an injection,” manager Kevin Cash said. “It’ll put him out of action for two or three days and then get his hands on the ball again when everything feels good.”
The Rays called up Luis Patino to take Faucher’s place in the roster and bullpen. They were expected to call up Yonny Chirinos ahead of Thursday’s fight against the Twins for what is likely to be their second straight bullpen game start. Chirinos has played seven games for the Rays this season and has a 2.79 ERA. He made one start and conceded three earned runs in 5⅓ innings, leaving the Yankees undecided last month.
Patino has made 16 appearances at Triple-A Durham, including six starts, with a 7.64 ERA over that span. Most recently, he appeared in the major leagues last season, making six starts for the Rays and posting an 8.10 ERA.
“(Patino) had a lot of problems initially but he’s done a good job here lately,” said Cash. “His speed has increased a bit. He has reached a speed of 95-96 (mph). And we got him back into the shorter inning roll.
“Now we need an inning or maybe more but it’s nice to see him again. I feel like at Bullpenwise we want to continue to protect these guys in some way.”
The news came less than 24 hours after the Rays put left-hander Josh Fleming on the injured list with an injured elbow. The Rays had already lost left-hander Jeffrey Springs earlier this season to a cruciate ligament tear and surgery by Tommy John to repair it. Drew Rasmussen is out indefinitely with a right flexor strain.
The Bullpen has already been without Pete Fairbanks, who is recovering from a left hip infection.
To make room for Chirinos in the roster, the Rays should pick Cooper Criswell, who pitched for 3⅓ innings in Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over the Twins.
A previous issue has kept Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe, 8, away from any baseball-related activity for at least two weeks.
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Brandon Lowe was suspended from all baseball activity for two to three weeks because of a herniated disc. The second baseman was put on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Sunday. The diagnosis requires him not to engage in any activity while trying to calm his back.
“He’s going to have to do a lot of rehab and core work,” Cash said. “So we’re going to give him about two weeks off baseball activity.”
Lowe, who hit 39 homers in 2021, missed 97 games last season with a lower back stress reaction. The Rays said this issue is not related to this injury.
Fairbanks was scheduled to throw to batsmen at the Rays’ Florida Complex League ground in Sarasota on Friday. He could return to the Rays on Monday once he’s eligible, but Cash said that’s undecided. “I’m not sure if we’ve decided he’s planning another assignment after that,” Cash said. “We’ll see how he survives the night.”
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