SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Griffin Jax expects only a minimum stay on the 15-day injured list after receiving an injection in his right elbow, manager Kevin Cash said before Tuesday’s game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.
Jax consulted with Dr. Keith Meister on Monday in Dallas and received an injection to “calm the back of his elbow down,” Cash said. The manager called it a “very good update” and said initial testing indicated the injury was “non-ligament-related.”
“I feel like he’s in a really good spot,” Cash said. “He’s going to take the ball out of his hand for two more days and then get back to throwing.”
Jax said he “woke up not feeling great” on Saturday, prompting the Rays to scratch him from his scheduled start against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. He was placed on the injured list Sunday, retroactive to Thursday, marking the first IL stint of his six-year career.
The right-hander had been on a strong run before the setback. In his last three starts, Jax allowed six runs — three earned — and struck out 23 over 16 2/3 innings. The Rays acquired him from the Twins for right-hander Taj Bradley at the 2025 Trade Deadline, and he made a successful transition from the bullpen to the rotation, making his first start of the season on April 26 against his former club. He pitched into the sixth inning for the first time on June 30 in Kansas City and did so twice more in his final two outings of July. Jax has thrown 91 2/3 innings in 2026, his most since combining for 122 2/3 between the major and minor leagues as a rookie for Minnesota in 2021.
The Rays are also monitoring left-hander Shane McClanahan, who went on the IL on July 31 with a back issue. McClanahan made a successful rehab start Tuesday and should rejoin the rotation soon.
Jax is expected to resume throwing within two days and could return to the Rays’ rotation after the minimum 15-day IL window.