This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Jax picked up a hold Friday against the Yankees. striking out one in a clean sixth inning.
The hold was the first of the year for Jax, who appears to have fallen down the pecking order in the Tampa Bay bullpen. The right-hander had opened the season as the favorite for saves for the Rays, but he's coughed up eight runs (five earned) and blown his two save chances through his first five innings. Bryan Baker has successfully converted the club's past two save opportunities, and Jax could drop even further down the hierarchy once Edwin Uceta (shoulder) is ready to make his season debut.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Griffin Jax: Woes continue to open 2026
Rotowire
Jax (0-2) took the loss Wednesday versus the Brewers, giving up five runs (three earned) on three hits and one walk. He failed to record an out.
The right-hander was summoned in the eighth inning of a 2-2 tie Wednesday, but he was unable to keep it knotted up. A fielding error by Junior Caminero prevented two of Jax's runs from being earned, but the hurler's struggles to begin the season continue to be concerning. Jax has now yielded five earned runs over two innings (four appearances), failing to convert each of his two save chances, and it wouldn't be surprising if Garrett Cleavinger or Bryan Baker received Tampa Bay's next save opportunity while Jax searches for his form.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Griffin Jax: Bounces back Monday
Rotowire
Jax threw a clean seventh inning Monday against the Brewers. He struck out one.
Although Jax didn't get the call to work the ninth inning Monday -- it was Kevin Kelly who recorded the final out for the save -- he still worked a high-leverage situation in the seventh frame of a tie game. After the right-hander blew a pair of saves in his first two appearances of the year, it's possible the Rays wanted to deploy Jax in a different setting so that he could try and regain his footing. The expectation entering the season was that Tampa Bay would have a committee approach at closer, and the team still appears to trust Jax to pitch in key spots.
Jax (0-1) blew the save and took the loss Saturday as the Rays were downed by the Cardinals 6-5 in 10 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on one hit and one walk in one-third of an inning.
After blowing the save in Tampa Bay's opener Thursday, Jax was called upon again to protect a one-run lead in the bottom of the 10th, but he instead served up a walk-off single to rookie JJ Wetherholt after a walk and a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Jax came into the season expected to lead the Rays' closing committee despite the fact that he didn't record a save in 2025, but those plans could be changing quickly. Left-hander Garrett Cleavinger should be the next man up with Edwin Uceta (shoulder) on the shelf, but Bryan Baker -- who struck out two in a perfect ninth Saturday to get the game to extra innings -- might also be in the mix if manager Kevin Cash wants a righty instead.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Griffin Jax: Takes blown save in season debut
Rotowire
Jax blew the save Thursday against the Cardinals, allowing one run on one hit in two-thirds of an inning.
The Rays had mounted a 7-1 lead in the sixth inning before St. Louis came roaring back in the second half of the frame, and Jax was unable to put out the fire. The right-hander entered the year as one of Tampa Bay's favorites for saves, with Edwin Uceta (shoulder) on the injured list, but Thursday's effort won't do him many favors. That said, Garrett Cleavinger gave up two runs in one-third of an inning, so this closer committee appears to be very much unsettled.
Jax has given up one run on four hits with seven strikeouts and one walk across 4.2 combined innings between the Grapefruit League and World Baseball Classic this spring.
The right-hander is expected to open the season in a closer committee alongside Garrett Cleavinger, with Edwin Uceta (shoulder) poised to join the mix once healthy. Jax had an underwhelming 4.23 ERA and 1.29 WHIP last season, but his 99:21 K:BB and 2.57 FIP better illustrate his high-leverage upside. He has three straight seasons of 18-plus holds but didn't record any saves last year, which isn't likely to be the case for long in 2026.
15:21
9:29
12:59
1:09
9:52
1:29
11:22
9:07
10:59
0:52
1:47
0:48
0:46
0:52
0:47
10:47
8:07
9:50
