Pete Fairbanks returns to a restored Tropicana Field, seeking to conquer his road struggles as the Marlins closer faces his former club in a high-stakes divisional homecoming.
The “Rivalry Weekend” series between the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays is also a homecoming for a highly paid closer who built his career under the lights at Tropicana Field.
Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks returns to Tampa Bay for his first game on the other side of the Citrus Series. Since being traded from the Texas Rangers for 2B Nick Solak in 2019, he totaled 90 saves in 267 appearances (2019-25), ranking third on the Rays all-time saves list.
“I takes me way back because I pitched here in 19 as a member of the Rangers,” Fairbanks told reporters. “It’s not uncharted territory but it’s definitely a little different spending as long as I did on the home side.”
It’s not just a return to the home of his former club but a return to St. Petersburg. Due to hurricane damage, the Rays had to play the entire 2025 season at the spring training home of the New York Yankees in Tampa, making Friday his first game back at the newly repaired Trop since 2024.
“It’s brighter. The stingrays are back,” Fairbanks said. “I was thinking about it, last time I was here throwing, I got hurt. So we’ll hopefully avoid that in this one. I spent a lot of games here either watching or pitching in the Trop.”
While Tropicana Field has been considered among the worst ballparks in baseball, it was home for Fairbanks. In his last three seasons pitching as the closer at the Trop (2022-24), Fairbanks posted a 2.82 ERA and converted 30 saves in 34 opportunities.
“The Trop has it’s charm,” he added. “There’s just something about it that you love it, you hate it, it’s all kind of the same. It’s definitely something that represents baseball in the Tampa Bay area and it will be fun to back on that mound.”
Although the “Citrus Series” between Florida’s two MLB teams is a name based on the Sunshine State’s rich production of oranges and grapefruits, Fairbanks said the name should’ve been between the two teams with stadiums named after competing orange juice brands.
“I always thought the ‘Citrus Series’ should’ve been Astros-Rays given the old namesake of their ballpark (Minute Maid Park),” Fairbanks said. “I guess it’s more fitting that it’s Florida.”
Fairbanks remains at his best in his home ballpark. Despite carrying a 10.00 ERA so far this season, the Marlins closer has a 1.35 ERA and a perfect 5-for-5 in save opportunities at loanDepot park. The few times he has pitched on the road have been disastrous.
Fairbanks started as the opener in his first road outing of 2026 so he could leave the game early and go on paternity leave. After not pitching for nine days, a rusty Fairbanks blew a lead against one of the best teams in baseball and his most recent road outing was cut short due to nerve irritation, thus leading to a short stint on the injured list.
All in all, those three road appearances have amounted to one blown save, and nine earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched (34.71 ERA). Both Fairbanks and the Marlins will be looking for better results against the Rays and on the road, where they’re 6-12.
The Rays came into baseball the year after the Marlins won their first World Series championship. Tampa Bay has long held the advantage over Miami in the interleague series with an 84-63 record.
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