Rays' Griffin Jax adjusting to potential new role as Giants await

Tampa Bay right-hander Griffin Jax may be taking a new step in his career on Saturday evening when the Rays meet the San Francisco Giants in St. Petersburg, Fla.

For the second time this season, the career reliever will make a start and perhaps get settled into what could be a new role.

Jax, 31, said he is aware of the possibility of pitching every fifth day.

“This is an organization that’s had some success doing this in the past,” said Jax, a third-round draft pick in 2016. “We’re going to see how I respond to increasing workload, but I think, all in all, it’s going to be the right decision.”

Jax (1-2, 6.35 ERA) has a 1.68 WHIP across 11 1/3 innings this season. He likely will open in front of fellow right-hander Jesse Scholtens after the club’s 3-0 shutout of the Giants on Friday night.

Jax has no record with a 1.23 ERA in eight career appearances against San Francisco.

The Rays and manager Kevin Cash could use the help on their pitching staff, though it has produced its two shutouts this season in the past three contests.

Tampa Bay’s rotation took a big hit Friday when the team announced that right-hander Ryan Pepiot would have season-ending hip surgery.

“It’s unfortunate,” Cash said. “It’s a guy that made (31) starts for us (last year) and that we were hoping was going to be available at some point. It just didn’t look like it was going to turn in the right direction.”

Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz, who had the game-winning RBI on Friday, left the series opener with left side tightness. He is day-to-day.

After being swept in its three-game series in Philadelphia, San Francisco arrived in the Tampa area at 2:30 a.m. ET — and the Giants played like it.

The Giants lost their fourth straight game and were shut out for the seventh time, tops in the majors.

San Francisco general manager Zack Minasian joined the team in Florida for the series and expressed his support for first-year manager Tony Vitello, adding that the season could eventually get pointed in the right direction.

“I try not to make too much out of three games; that’s a small sample,” Minasian said of the sweep in Philadelphia. “I wish I was thick-skinned enough to say I don’t worry about it, but I think it’s just the nature of these positions. You’re always wanting to do better as a front office. We always want to make a positive impact.

“But I think a lot of it goes back to the fact that there is preparation, a lot of hard work and you just hope and are confident that things will turn.”

The starting pitcher the last time the Giants won, right-hander Landen Roupp (5-1, 2.55 ERA) will look to end the team’s skid on Saturday.

Roupp beat the Miami Marlins last time out, 6-3 on Sunday, yielding three runs in 7 2/3 innings for his fourth consecutive win.

He has a 9.00 ERA without a decision in one start and one relief appearance against Tampa Bay.

–Field Level Media