Rays Get Gut-Punched: Griffin Jax Hits IL with Elbow Scare

SEATTLE — Just when the Rays thought they had their pitching puzzle figured out, the baseball gods threw a curveball. Right-hander Griffin Jax has been placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort, the team announced Sunday.

The move is retroactive to Thursday, and it comes less than 24 hours after Jax was scratched from his scheduled start against the Mariners. Instead of the usual starter's routine, Tampa Bay rolled with a bullpen day — and somehow made it work, sneaking out a 3-2 win over Seattle.

Numbers Don't Lie

The 31-year-old has been a workhorse when healthy: 29 appearances, 18 starts, a 6-9 record, and a solid 3.63 ERA. Add in 100 strikeouts against 30 walks, and you can see why this one stings.

But here's the silver lining: Manager Kevin Cash revealed Saturday that initial tests suggest the injury is not ligament-related, and Jax is already showing improvement.

"He's going to go see a doctor [Monday] and we'll probably know Wednesday or Thursday on something," Cash said. "He feels better today, which is very encouraging."

That's music to Rays fans' ears. Elbow issues are always scary, but no ligament damage means this could be a short stint rather than a season-ender.

Next Man Up

To fill the roster void, Tampa Bay recalled right-hander Michael Grove from Triple-A Durham. He'll join a pitching staff that's already learning to adapt on the fly.

For now, the Rays are in survival mode. But if Jax's recovery stays on track, this could just be a minor blip in an otherwise scrappy season.