What happened: On the latest 'Sources Tell Jeff Passan' episode, Rays closer Pete Fairbanks defines what relievers call a 'dry hump' — warming up in the bullpen without entering the game. Fairbanks jokes that one is fine, two is uncomfortable, and three in a single night left him unable to move his arm for eight hours. The clip is part of a broader baseball-dictionary segment Passan teased on his timeline.

Why it matters: Bullpen workload is one of the quieter levers behind late-season arm attrition, and 'dry hump' usage rarely shows up in box scores even though it shapes availability the next day. Fairbanks' anecdote reinforces why managers who repeatedly get a reliever up without using him draw private grumbling from pitching staffs. It is a glimpse at the hidden cost behind reliever fatigue narratives that move on bullpen-heavy series.

What to watch: Passan's full episode promises a dozen more dictionary entries from players around the league. Watch whether other clubs' relievers weigh in on dry-hump tolerance as bullpen usage tightens through May.