ST. PETERSBURG — Pete Fairbanks’ fingers were feeling better back inside climate-controlled Tropicana Field, but an unrelated right forearm issue landed the Rays closer on the injured list.

Though the new injury was announced as right forearm inflammation, which can be a precursor to serious elbow ligament issues, both Fairbanks and Rays manager Kevin Cash stressed that the area of concern is closer to the wrist. That is even more relevant since Fairbanks, 29, has had two Tommy John surgeries.

The Rays don’t expect him to be out much, if at all, past, his May 15 eligible date, as the move was backdated to Sunday.

“It’s just something that’s not bouncing back to the extent that I expect it to,” Fairbanks said. “Just not feeling exactly right towards the end of the delivery. It’s something I kind of want to nip now instead of have it come back and bite me later.”

Fairbanks had to leave Friday’s game in Chicago due to lack of feeling in his fingers as a result of Raynaud’s syndrome, which constricts blood flow in cooler weather.

But while the fingers were improved Tuesday afternoon, Fairbanks reported the forearm concern, which he said had been an “on and off” issue. He was sent that night for an MRI exam.

“It hasn’t been necessarily, like, constant over the past few days, but (Tuesday) wasn’t to the point where I felt like I was still throwing without feeling like it was a hindrance,” Fairbanks said. “MRIs were good, so it’s just inflammation of that kind of muscle/tendon area that needs to be taken care of.”

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