The Rays’ 12-1 win over the Phillies on Saturday came with one uneasy moment for Tampa Bay: Griffin Jax had to leave after taking a 104 mph liner off the right side of his back.
Jax was struck by Trea Turner’s third-inning line drive and immediately looked bothered, bending over before walking gingerly off the field. The ball bounced to shortstop Taylor Walls, which let the Rays finish the inning.
Jax did not come back out for the fourth. The Rays said he sustained a low back contusion.
It was a familiar kind of scare for Jax, who was hit in a similar area by a line drive during the second inning of a May 26 game in Baltimore. He stayed in to finish that inning, then left the game and still didn’t miss a start, returning to pitch again on June 1.
Everything else about the night tilted Tampa Bay’s way. The game started 36 minutes late and was played in rain and a damp chill, but the Rays still collected their 98th win, third most in franchise history. One more win in Sunday’s regular-season finale would tie the 2023 club for second most, with only the 2021 team’s 100 wins standing ahead of it.
The Rays also wasted no time putting pressure on a Phillies team that badly needed a win to help secure a National League wild-card berth. Tampa Bay jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first and kept rolling from there.
Junior Caminero added to the night with his 42nd homer, second most in the American League, along with RBIs No. 100 and 101. Yandy Diaz, who had been in a cold spell, picked up his third multihit game in the last four.
Victor Mesa Jr. turned in the first four-hit game of his career. Richie Palacios drove in four runs, a career high, and raised his total to 57, fourth on the team.
Brody Hopkins, a rookie reliever trying to strengthen his case for a postseason roster spot, also bounced back after a rough Thursday outing.
For the Rays, the final weekend is about sharpening everything before the five-day break they earned by winning the American League East and locking down a first-round bye. They’ll work out and play scrimmage games at the Trop this week while the Yankees and Red Sox meet in a best-of-three Wild Card Series for the chance to face them.
There are also individual milestones still in play, including Caminero’s bid to become the first player to start all 162 games at third base since ex-Ray Vinny Castilla did it for Colorado in 1998.
The Phillies, meanwhile, are still fighting for their season. At minimum, they need a win, and depending on Saturday’s late results, they may also need a Diamondbacks loss to reach the six-team NL field.
Sunday’s forecast does not help matters. Rain is expected to hang around from late Saturday night until close to the 3:05 p.m. scheduled first pitch, with more showers possible through the afternoon and evening.
Outfielder Chandler Simpson said Saturday afternoon that his right foot was still “a little sore” after being hit by a foul ball Friday. He said he likely would not play in the final two regular-season games as a precaution, but he is fully confident he’ll be ready for the Oct. 3 playoff opener.
In Other News...
Dodgers Staff Suddenly Tied To A Mariners Search Fans Should Watch
The Mariners are moving quickly after parting ways with Dan Wilson following a disappointing 2026 season, and the search has already started to draw in a familiar name from the Rays orbit. Team president Jerry Dipoto wants a manager with major league experience, and the list of possibilities has begun to take shape with several established voices already under consideration.
Among the candidates being discussed are Dodgers special assistant Rocco Baldelli, Dodgers first base coach Chris Woodward and Rays senior advisor Brandon Hyde, with Seattle also looking at Torey Lovullo and Stephen Vogt. The process is still in its early stages, but the Mariners are actively making calls around the league as they try to find a fit that can steady the dugout and reset the direction of the club. [Read more 🡒]
Griffin Jax Could Become A Rays October Weapon If Hes Ready
Griffin Jax took a scary shot when a line drive struck him, but the early read on the injury is encouraging, with the Rays reliever diagnosed with a lower back contusion and expecting to be fine. That matters because Tampa Bay is already sorting through its postseason pitching plans, and Jax has worked his way into the conversation as one of the more reliable arms on the roster after a strong stretch of recent outings.
The Rays are weighing a three-man starting rotation for the American League Division Series, a setup that could push Jax back into a bullpen role if all goes according to plan. For a team that values every leverage inning in October, having a pitcher in form and available can make a real difference, which is why Jax remains a name to watch as Tampa Bay finalizes how it wants to attack the postseason. [Read more 🡒]
Rays May Get The Yankees Matchup Fans Were Dreading Most
The Rays now sit in the familiar October posture of waiting on the next domino to fall, with their American League Division Series opponent still to be decided by the Yankees-Red Sox Wild Card Series. For Tampa Bay, the matchup matters just as much as the timing, because the path could shift quickly depending on who survives the opener and how the bracket settles before the Division Series begins.
If the Yankees get through, the Rays could be staring at a rotation headlined by Cam Schlittler, Max Fried and Gerrit Cole, a group that would make for a demanding early test. Aaron Judges injury status is another part of the equation to watch during the Wild Card round, since his availability could shape both the Yankees ceiling and the challenge Tampa Bay ultimately draws. [Read more 🡒]