Kevin Cash Shares Positive Update on Rays Injured Pitcher
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The Tampa Bay Rays have been hit hard by injuries in their starting rotation all season, but have continually been able to overcome them.
Ryan Pepiot, who made 31 starts last season, isn’t taking the mound at all in 2026. His replacement, Joe Boyle, made three starts before landing on the injured list himself. Jesse Scholtens was sidelined for weeks. Steven Matz has been on the injured list twice and was removed from the rotation for ineffectiveness.
That hasn’t slowed the Rays down at all, but they hit two more bumps in the road recently with Shane McClanahan and Griffin Jax landing on the injured list. McClanahan has already started his rehab assignment for his back ailment, which is encouraging.
And now, manager Kevin Cash has provided a similarly encouraging update on the status of Jax. Whenever a pitcher is scratched from a start and subsequently placed on the injured list with elbow discomfort, people assume the worst, especially when multiple opinions are compiled from doctors.
How long will Griffin Jax not throw for?
However, the news is incredibly positive for Jax. As shared by Ryan Bass on X, his pitcher received an injection to “calm the back of the elbow down,” according to Cash.
“I feel like he’s in a really good spot,” Cash added. “We’ll take the ball out of his hand for two more days and then get him back to throwing.”
That is about as good a scenario as the team could have hoped for. Getting back to a throwing program only five days after being scratched from a start with elbow discomfort is a win for Tampa Bay and Jax.
Converting from the bullpen to the rotation midseason, Jax has already thrown a career-high 91.2 innings and counting this season. It isn’t all too surprising that he experienced some soreness, throwing more than he has in his Major League career, but it is encouraging to hear that he avoided any serious injury.
BREAKING: Good news on #Rays Griffin Jax after visiting with Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas: He got an injection to “calm the back of the elbow down,” Kevin Cash said.
— Ryan Bass (@Ry_Bass) August 12, 2026
“I feel like he’s in a really good spot,” Cash added. “We’ll take the ball out of his hand for two more days and…
He has been excellent as a starter, going 5-7 in 18 starts with a 3.16 ERA across 82.2 innings of work, recording 90 strikeouts and only 23 walks along the way. Opponents have produced a .234/.288/.380 slash line against him and a tOPS+ of 90 and sOPS+ of 85, as he is performing well above the league average.
It will be interesting to see how Cash manages things moving down the stretch of the season. The Rays have six capable starting pitchers after acquiring Freddy Peralta from the New York Mets ahead of the MLB trade deadline.
In an effort to manage innings, Tampa Bay could look to piggyback some combination of McClanahan, Jax and Ian Seymour to ensure they are fresh for October and to give their bullpen some much-deserved rest as well.
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Kenneth Teape is an alumnus of SUNY Old Westbury and graduated in 2013 with an Honors Degree in Media Communications with a focus on print journalism. During his time at Old Westbury, he worked for the school newspaper and several online publications, such as Knicks Now, the official website of the New York Knicks, and a self-made website with fellow students, Gotham City Sports News. Kenneth has also been a site expert at Empire Writes Back, Musket Fire, and Lake Show Life within the FanSided Network. He was a contributor to HoopsHabit, with work featured on Bleacher Report and Yardbarker. Previously, he is a reporter for both NBA Analysis Network and NFL Analysis Network, as well as a writer and editor for Packers Coverage. You can follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @teapester725, or reach him via email at teapester725@gmail.com.