CLEVELAND — Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash had a pretty simple and straightforward answer to why they chose right-hander Griffin Jax to start Wednesday’s pivotal third game of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians. “What we like is what he’s done as a starter for us all season long,” Cash said. “A lot of confidence with him. It’s really good stuff. He gets ...

Griffin Jax of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Philadelphia.

Emilee Chinn/Getty Images North America/TNS

CLEVELAND — Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash had a pretty simple and straightforward answer to why they chose right-hander Griffin Jax to start Wednesday’s pivotal third game of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians.

“What we like is what he’s done as a starter for us all season long,” Cash said. “A lot of confidence with him. It’s really good stuff. He gets it in the zone. Gets himself in rhythm. I think he’s done a tremendous job of transitioning into that starter routine (in late April).

“Just go do what he’s done.”

Jax did plenty well, going 7-8 with a 3.14 ERA and .646 OPS allowed over 23 starts. Take out his rough Sept. 2 return from a month-long stay on the injured list due to right elbow discomfort, and he was 7-7, 2.68.

Over his last three full starts — working five innings in each — he struck out 14 and posted a 0.60 ERA. His dynamic six-pitch mix, including a hard change-up, creates a lot of swing-and-miss.

“If you stand behind him when he’s pitching, sometimes we have the screen, his pitches are darting every which way,” Cash said. “He can run it in, away. He creates that effect a lot.

“The change-up is the pitch that I feel like has really stood out. And it’s a power change where he throws it in the low 90s. He can throw any of those pitches at any count, the confidence to do it.”

Conversely, Jax said he appreciates the confidence the Rays are showing in slating him for the first postseason start of his career, having pitched in relief for the Minnesota Twins in the 2023 playoffs and last week in Game 3 against the New York Yankees.

“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,” Jax said. “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.”

Nick Martinez started Game 3 of the Division Series but will be available in relief Thursday. Martinez “is going to play a big role” in the series, Cash said. If he’s not needed Thursday, he is a likely option to start Game 4 on Friday.

Jax will be matched up with Guardians right-handed ace Gavin Williams, who struck out 23 Chicago White Sox over 10 2/3 innings in starting Division Series Games 2 and 5. He also threw an inning of relief in Game 4.

“I feel good,” Williams said. “I feel that was kind of a normal workload for me, except throwing in (Game 4 as my bullpen session). Body feels good. Arm feels good.”

Neither Jax nor Williams sounded too concerned about the start time being moved up from 6 p.m. to 1 p.m. ET (due to the threat of heavy rain) or potential inclement conditions.

Jax just wants to take the ball to the mound.

“It means a lot that they trust me to go Game 3, first game in Cleveland, up against one of their best guys,” he said. “So, it’s going to be a good game. I’m really excited for the challenge and the opportunity.”

Junior achievement

In addition to Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson and shortstop Taylor Walls being named finalists for AL Gold Glove awards, third baseman Junior Caminero was one of three finalists for the Players Choice AL Outstanding Player Award, joining Houston’s Yordan Alvarez and Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. ... Starter Shane McClanahan was not a finalist for the AL Comeback Player of the Year award.

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