Griffin Jax Fantasy Stats

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Griffin Jax has put himself on the closer hot seat early in 2026 after blowing each of his first two save opportunities as he begins his first full year with the team. In Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, Jax blew the save and took his first loss of the year after allowing two runs (one earned) on a hit while walking one in just one-third of an inning. The 31-year-old blew the save on Opening Day at Busch Stadium on Thursday and could not get it done on Saturday in the bottom of the 10th inning. Infield prospect JJ Wetherholt delivered the dagger against Jax. The former third-rounder by the Minnesota Twins in 2016 out of Air Force has been manager Kevin Cash's first choice for saves to begin the year, but that could be changing the next time a save situation comes up, with Bryan Baker and Garrett Cleavinger both being options. Edwin Uceta (shoulder) should get ninth-inning duties when he returns from the injured list, and he has the most upside of any Rays high-leverage arm.

Tampa Bay Rays reliever Griffin Jax could be the early favorite for the closer role in Tampa Bay once the regular season gets underway. The right-hander was superb for the Twins from 2022 through 2024, but despite an elite 36.4 percent strikeout rate (29.8 percent K-BB%) in 50 appearances for Minnesota in 2025, the 6-foot-2 hurler recorded a 4.50 ERA through the end of July and was shipped to Tampa, where he posted a 3.60 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, while maintaining a strong 31.8 percent strikeout rate. All in all, the former third-round draft pick finished the season with 99 strikeouts in just 66 innings pitched between Minnesota and Tampa Bay, registering 98th percentile or better strikeout, whiff, and chase rates. With Edwin Uceta (shoulder) expected to begin the season on the injured list, Jax's only real competition for the role might come from Garrett Cleavinger, who was fantastic in 2025 as well, but who is a left-hander and may be deployed more opportunistically. Manager Kevin Cash has not committed to any particular reliever just yet, and may end up going for a closer-by-committee approach, but Jax has the prototypical stuff to grab hold of the role and keep it for the entire season, making him an attractive target who is currently being drafted after the likes of Dennis Santana and Ryan Walker.

In 2024, while pitching for the Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Griffin Jax emerged as one of the best high-leverage arms in baseball. Jax's performance declined in 2025, as he finished the year with a 4.23 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 99 strikeouts across 66 innings split between Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Still, Jax posted an elite 35% strikeout rate, and his ERA improved to a more manageable 3.60 across 23 appearances with the Rays after being acquired mid-season. Heading into 2026, Jax appears to be competing with right-hander Edwin Uceta and left-hander Garrett Cleavinger for the closer job in Tampa Bay. Rays manager Kevin Cash is known for using multiple relievers in the ninth inning, so the most likely scenario is that Jax will not see 100% of the team's save opportunities. However, given his ability to rack up strikeouts, he could be a useful relief option for fantasy managers even if he remains in a part-time closer role. With a current average draft position of pick 233, Jax could ultimately end up providing significant value for managers in the middle rounds of drafts.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot, who was scheduled to start Wednesday's road matchup with the Chicago White Sox, will be scratched due to fatigue. As a result, the Rays will go with a bullpen game, with Griffin Jax now listed as the scheduled opener. Pepiot is having a fine season, pitching to a 3.59 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 15.9 percent K-BB%, however, he's also at a career-high 163 innings pitched, which is 30 more innings than he logged last season. It's bad timing as the Rays try to make a final push towards the playoffs, but hopefully this rest rejuvenates him for a couple of final starts to end the year. Jax hasn't logged more than an inning all year in 65 appearances, so don't expect him to go longer than that on Wednesday.

The Tampa Bay Rays are acquiring Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Griffin Jax. Jax has spent his entire professional career with the Twins. Jax has typically been deployed in a high-leverage role but has primarily been a setup man for hard-throwing right-hander Jhoan Duran. This season, Jax has posted a 4.50 ERA with a 1.28 WIHP. However, he has flashed immense strike upside, posting an elite 36.4% K rate with a 38.8% whiff rate. Under the hood, Jax carries an impressive 3.11 xERA, which suggests he has gotten a bit unlucky throughout the first half. Last season, Jax was one of the most dominant relievers in the sport, holding a 2.03 ERA with a stellar 0.87 WHIP. In Tampa Bay, fantasy managers should expect Jax to likely operate as the setup man for Pete Fairbanks. However, Jax could occasionally earn save opportunities down the stretch.

USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale writes that the Philadelphia Phillies have been extensively scouting Minnesota Twins relievers Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax and are hoping to acquire at least one of them by the July 31 trade deadline. Nightengale adds that the Twins are drawing strong interest from the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds. Duran is having a bounce-back season in 2025 after posting a career-worst 3.64 ERA for the Twins last year. The 27-year-old hard-throwing right-hander has successfully converted each of his last five save chances and enters the All-Star break sporting a career-low 1.66 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, 15 saves, 49 strikeouts and 16 walks in 43 1/3 innings pitched. The Phillies are currently mixing and matching save chances with Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering, but if they acquired Duran, he'd be the unquestioned primary closer.

Minnesota Twins reliever Griffin Jax blew a save opportunity in Sunday's 9-7 extra-innings loss to the Houston Astros. The 30-year-old punched out three batters but allowed three hits and two earned in the outing. Jax entered the contest with a 7-5 lead, letting up an Isaac Paredes single and Yordan Alvarez two-run shot to open the inning. Christian Walker then doubled to center, but Jax was able to retire the next three batters via the K. It's an outing to forget for the righty, who has afforded his opponents at least one hit in each appearance thus far. He's in no danger of losing his role as the primary setup man and has historically been a better reliever. Still, 2025 has started shaky, as he holds an inflated 10.13 ERA.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Griffin Jax will remain in the team's bullpen for the upcoming 2025 season, according to general manager Jeremy Zoll. Fourteen of Jax's 18 outings in his rookie season for the Twins in 2021 came in a starting role, but he has not started a game in the big leagues since. Last year in a career-high 72 appearances out of the bullpen, he was excellent, posting a career-best 2.03 ERA (1.94 FIP), a 0.87 WHIP, a career-high 10 saves, a career-high 95 strikeouts and a career-low 15 walks in 71 innings pitched. Although the 30-year-old could again see more save chances in 2025, he'll most likely be more of an asset for fantasy managers in saves leagues as Minnesota's primary eighth-inning setup man. In addition to his 10 saves in 2024, Jax also recorded 24 holds in his breakout season as a high-leverage bullpen arm.

Minnesota Twins bench coach Jayce Tingler said that the team is leaving open the possibility of moving right-handed reliever Griffin Jax into the starting rotation next season. The Twins already have a pretty deep rotation, but Jax could join that list next year. The 29-year-old former third-round pick in 2016 out of Air Force was outstanding in his 72 appearances out of the Twins' bullpen in 2024 in his fourth year in the big leagues. Jax had a career-best 2.03 ERA (1.94 FIP), a career-high 10 saves, a 0.87 WHIP, a career-high 95 strikeouts and only 15 walks in 71 innings pitched. He's been a workhorse for Minnesota the last three years, combining for a 3.06 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 15 saves and a 241:54 K:BB in 208 2/3 frames. Jax was an excellent source of holds and ratios as a reliever, and while he'd have plenty of value as a starter, too, his innings would also certainly be capped.

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Griffin Jax picked up his eighth save of the season in Monday's 3-0 win over the Cubs. Jax came on to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by three. He got the first out on a ground-out, allowed a single, and got the final two outs on a strikeout and another ground-out. Jhoan Duran pitched the eighth inning in this one, and while he is considered the fantasy arm to roster, he has only seen four more save opportunities this season than Jax. Jax has pitched well, converting eight of 12 save opportunities with 17 holds to go with a 2.01 ERA, an 11.86 K/9 rate, and a 2.19 BB/9 rate. He is currently rostered in 45% of leagues, so he may still be out there in deeper roto leagues.