Miami Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks was given a rare start Sunday against the New York Yankees to allow him to return home for the birth of his child. The 32-year-old right-hander threw a 27-pitch first inning before departing, surrendering Ben Rice's three-run homer that put New York ahead 3-1.

Fairbanks' wife was scheduled to have labor induced Monday morning, prompting the Marlins to place him on paternity leave. The team originally planned for Chris Paddack to start before switching to Fairbanks around the scheduled 1:35 p.m. first pitch, which came after a 3-hour, 35-minute rain delay. Left-hander Andrew Nardi relieved for the bottom of the second inning.

The veteran reliever last pitched Tuesday and hadn't started a game since September 21, 2020, when he threw 1⅔ innings for Tampa Bay against the New York Mets. This unusual arrangement highlights how MLB teams accommodate players during significant family moments while managing competitive needs.