SEATTLE -- Rays right-hander Griffin Jax, who was scratched hours before the first pitch Saturday, was placed on the 15-day injured list before Sunday's series finale vs. the Mariners with right elbow discomfort. The move is retroactive to Aug. 6.
The Rays called up right-hander Michael Grove from Triple-A Durham to provide bullpen depth. Tampa used seven pitchers in Saturday’s gritty 3-2 win over the Mariners after Jax’s unexpected scratch.
Manager Kevin Cash said that initial testing indicated the injury is "non-ligament-related."
“I don't know anything right now,” Cash said Sunday. “He's going to go see a doctor [Monday]. We'll probably know Wednesday or Thursday on something, but he feels better today, which is very encouraging.”
“Woke up this morning not feeling great,” Jax said Saturday. “Just felt like something was not feeling great as a whole. But getting checked out with the team, and you know, I think we ruled out the worst-case-possible scenario.”
Jax was on a solid streak heading into his planned start. In his last three games, he allowed six runs (three earned) and struck out 23 over 16 2/3 innings.
This is Grove’s third call-up this season. He pitched two innings of relief in the Rays’ 13-9 win Monday, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits. He also threw three scoreless innings in a 4-2 win against the Diamondbacks on June 27.
Grove was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday after right-hander Tyler Wells reported to the club after being acquired from the Orioles at the Trade Deadline.
“Obviously, the ’pen is pretty chewed up in the best possible way yesterday with their workload,” Cash said on Sunday. “And Grover can come in here and provide a couple innings of relief as the game dictates.”