Tampa Bay Rays starter Griffin Jax exited Saturday night's 12-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies after taking a 104 mph line drive off his lower back in the third inning.
With two outs and a runner at second, Phillies Trea Turner hit the ball directly toward Jax. The liner struck the right-hander in the spine before ricocheting to shortstop Taylor Walls, who threw Turner out at first to end the inning.
Jax immediately grabbed his lower back and bent over in pain before walking off the mound. During a dugout interview, Rays manager Kevin Cash said the ball had hit Jax in the spine.
“It's gonna hurt him a little bit, it got him right in the spine,” said Cash.
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Jax did not return for the fourth inning, with left-hander Steven Matz taking over. He later said his initial reaction was shock and stiffness, and he went to the clubhouse immediately for treatment.
The injury has been diagnosed as a lower back contusion, but Jax and Cash both said after the game that he was alright and would not miss time. Jax also does not expect the injury to affect his postseason availability.
The incident was the second time this season that a line drive to Jax's lower back ended one of his starts. On May 26 against the Baltimore Orioles, he was hit by a 107 mph liner in the second inning, finished that frame and then left the game. He did not miss a rotation turn and made his next start June 1.
Jax concluded Saturday's outing with three scoreless innings, allowing two hits while striking out one. He threw 52 pitches, including 33 strikes, and finished the regular season with an 8-10 record and a 3.53 ERA.
The Rays have yet to announce their postseason roster. Their starting-pitching decisions include Jax alongside Drew Rasmussen, Nick Martinez, Freddy Peralta and Ian Seymour.