AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: GUARDIANS VS RAYS

October 14, 2026

Griffin Jax

Progressive Field

Tampa Bay Rays

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. How excited are you to get this opportunity, your first playoff start and obviously a 1-1 situation on the road? There's a lot of framing you can do for this game.

GRIFFIN JAX: Yeah, it's a big honor, one that I've been looking forward to for a really long time now that I'm in the rotation. Didn't work out in the Division Series, but I was just happy to pitch any single role I could have. But here now, in a seven-game series, looking forward to helping this team, starting this game.

Q. How much of an advantage was it that you got to see the first two games of this series, especially with a lineup that's much different than the one you guys faced in late July?

GRIFFIN JAX: Yeah, it's always helpful getting to see a lineup get attacked by two different guys. But there's definitely things I can watch and learn from the way Drew attacked him and then what Freddy did last night. So a lot to watch and a lot that I'm going to go over some notes tonight and stick to my game plan at the end of the day.

Q. You told us before the series started that you guys had had a meeting with cash and had all agreed that you would be comfortable with whatever role. So how much pride do you have knowing that you got to have that starter tab?

GRIFFIN JAX: Like I said, it's a big honor. And it means a lot that they trust me to go Game 3, first game in Cleveland, up against one of their best guys. So it's going to be a good game. I'm really excited for the challenge and the opportunity, like I said.

Q. Can you just take us through we've been kind of watching from the outside perspective. Tampa Bay has been on top of it traveling like you would in season. Cleveland has been taking those extra nights and traveling later. So from the Rays's perspective what was that to just hey let's get out and let's go ahead and get to the next spot?

GRIFFIN JAX: I mean, from my perspective, it wasn't much of a conversation. It was just, hey, this is what we're doing. And so I mean, at the end of the day, I think guys are just excited to get to the next place and we all still got eight, nine hours last night, woke up, got to the ballpark, moved the bodies, get the rust out a little bit and then get a full night's sleep tonight.

Q. When it comes to facing a top half of the order that has Steven Kwan, José Ramírez and Chase DeLauter, obviously there have been teams who have tried to go away from José and then obviously get to Chase or vice versa. What have you seen that might be best suited to your game?

GRIFFIN JAX: I think you just kind of gotta take it one pitch at a time one bat a time. If you're up there thinking about what you're going to plan on the next hitter, you're already at a disadvantage because those top three are for the Guardians are three of the best in the league. Steven does a really good job fighting you off, getting on base to set up for José and then Chase. You know, they're both, José and Chase, are swinging the ball, swinging the bat really well right now. But I just gotta keep it simple and focus on each pitch that I'm throwing to those guys and not let the next one already lead in the back of my mind of what I'm trying to do for the next guy.

Q. You pitched well in this ballpark. Obviously that's been as a reliever, different team and everything, but how much does experience help you as you're heading into a playoff starting this program?

GRIFFIN JAX: Yeah, there's definitely a level of comfortability here. Coming here as often as I did with the Twins.

I've always enjoyed coming here. The visiting staff here, Willie and those guys, are great. So I definitely feel more comfortable here than maybe another place. But still at the end of the day it's baseball and I just gotta go pitch my game.

Q. When it comes to, obviously, switching your role from reliever to starter and kind of attacking on more innings than you have in the previous years of your career, and how has that changed your mindset of going into that start?

GRIFFIN JAX: Yeah, physically, I feel really good. We get almost like a second energy boost from pitching the playoffs. It's almost like, joking around with the guys, thinking it's like first day of Spring Training again, it's a new season.

But I think going into the transition of becoming a starter, I didn't know where I was going to be at the end of the season with a new increase in workload and a place where I haven't been in a while.

So taking that to where I feel like I am today, I'm really happy with. I feel like we've done a great job as a staff, training staff, huge shout out to them for helping this transition go as smoothly as it did. We've had a nice benefit of having some extra days off and rest during the playoffs here the first part. And taking those and taking advantage of everything.

Q. Not sure if you saw, but Taylor Walls and Chandler Simpson were named Gold Glove finalists. Just as a pitcher, how much do you appreciate Walls' consistency and the strides Chandler's taken?

GRIFFIN JAX: It's been awesome. Just knowing, having the confidence in the fact that you want the ball to go into play.

And we always joke that when the ball gets on the ground, Taylor Walls, it's you can breathe because a play's going to be made. And you know like there's some public metrics out there that don't necessarily see the impact that Taylor makes on the game, but he's one of the smartest dudes I've ever played with. Just his impulse and what he's thinking about, he can basically tell me what I'm about to throw before the pitch is called. And the way he's positioning himself in the infield, the way he's taking that little jump step to get to the ball as quick as possible, it's just really impressive and it's fun to watch.

And Chandler, too, just the strides he's made this year, from last to this year, it's been incredibly impressive to make that jump in such a short amount of time.

And I think I saw, what was it, that our outfield is the best at not turning any fly balls into base hits. Something like that. So huge shout out to all those guys. I know we play at a relatively pitcher-friendly park with a bigger outfield. But that means that those guys have a lot more ground to cover, and so their jumps are huge off the bat.

And the work that Corey has done with those guys has been a huge part of our success this year.

Q. Any difference for you with the game being moved up a couple hours, or better to know this morning instead of possibly having to deal with the rain delay situation?

GRIFFIN JAX: I'm not going to let it affect me too much. I've always been more of a morning person anyway. Spring Training schedules are my favorite, getting a decent night sleep and waking up and playing some baseball.

It will be nice to hopefully have some sun tomorrow, but I mean, it's still baseball at the end of the day.

Q. To the note of some of your teammates with accolades, MLBPA gave Junior Caminero as a finalist for outstanding player, and everybody's talked about what he's done at the plate this year, but what can you tell us about just sharing a clubhouse with him?

GRIFFIN JAX: Yeah, we have a lot of leaders on this team. And he's one of them. As he goes, we go. And his energy is contagious. You see the way he plays. He leaves it all out in the field. And there's no better guy to look to in a bigger moment than him.

So I'm happy that he's getting this opportunity to show the world what he can do if they didn't know already. But it's been really fun to watch him?

Q. Cash was trying to describe to us how some of your swing-and-miss stuff and how the ball darts this way and that way. How important to your game is that, and kind of how much pride do you take -- and maybe it's even better now as a starter than it had been with more reps?

GRIFFIN JAX: Yeah, I think that's a good way to look at it. Getting those consistent reps throughout the week leading into my start has definitely helped.

When I'm in the bullpen, I may not be able to use that time to necessarily work or tinker on something knowing that I have to pitch that night, so it's whatever I got that night it's whatever I'm going to have.

But just the extra time to work with Snydes and Monkey and the guys in the bullpen just to help drill that stuff down has been huge.

I mean, I've always known that swing and miss is a big part of my game. I think that's a big reason why we thought this move was going to be more successful than not. And there's parts of that that I can take into the start where if I need to get that strikeout I can hunt that. And I'm not necessarily banking on trying to get some weak contact -- I can go for the punch-out when I need it.

Q. How important is that mental preparation? Because obviously you say you can hunt a strikeout (indiscernible) your sweeper works in that way. But when it comes to the postseason versus regular season, is there a switch, or is it just more time?

GRIFFIN JAX: In October, they say what drives the game are home runs and strikeouts. And this team is -- the Guardians are not one to strike out.

So I think I just gotta stay aggressive in the zone early, force them to put the ball in play to our elite defense, and then if I get a chance to go for the strikeout, I will.

But I don't want to turn an 0-2 count into a 3-2 count because those guys are dangerous when they get on base. So it's taking your chance but then getting back into the zone before you get to a 3-2 count.