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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Twins' Griffin Jax: Notches 10th save
Griffin Jax yielded an unearned run and struck out one batter in one inning Friday. He earned a save in the extra-innings win over Boston.Jax allowed the automatic runner to score after a pair of groundouts in the 12th inning but had no trouble finishing off the 4-2 victory. It was his second save over his last three appearances after not converting one since Aug. 5. Jhoan Duran threw a scoreless eighth inning while the game was tied 1-1. Jax has racked up 10 saves while posting an impressive 91:15 K:BB and 2.10 ERA through 68.2 innings this season.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Twins' Griffin Jax: Secures ninth save
Griffin Jax earned the save in Tuesday's 3-1 win at Cleveland, pitching a scoreless two-thirds of an inning with one strikeout while allowing one hit.After suffering the loss Monday night, Jax relieved Jhoan Duran with runners on first and second with one out in the ninth. Jax had struggled of late, as he entered this contest with a 6.14 ERA across 7.1 innings this month, so this performance was a welcome sight. Although he has been better than Duran -- pitching to a 2.16 ERA across 66.2 innings compared to Duran's 3.99 ERA across 49.2 innings -- Jax collected his first save since Aug. 5. The 29-year-old has been a stalwart in the Minnesota bullpen, pitching to a 2.08 FIP, 0.91 WHIP and 88:15 K:BB with nine saves and 24 holds this season.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Twins' Griffin Jax: Collects eighth save
Griffin Jax picked up the save in Monday's 3-0 win over the Cubs, pitching a scoreless inning with one strikeout. He allowed one hit.Jax secured his first save since June 23, working around a Cody Bellinger single to wrap up the Minnesota Twins' 63rd win of the season. Jhoan Duran worked the eighth inning, retiring the eight and nine hitters before allowing a double to Ian Happ and then striking out Michael Busch. Perhaps manager Rocco Baldelli will start using Jax in more save situations amid a tight AL Wild Card race as the 29-year-old has been better than Duran this season, pitching to a 2.01 ERA and 2.11 FIP -- versus Duran's 3.47 ERA and 3.91 FIP -- across 49.1 innings with an 11.9 K/9.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Twins' Griffin Jax: Collects save
Griffin Jax struck out two and allowed one hit in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Athletics.The Minnesota Twins haven't had much need for their bullpen this weekend, as Bailey Ober tossed a complete game Saturday and Pablo Lopez went eight innings Sunday. Jax hadn't pitched since Thursday, so he was a little fresher than Jhoan Duran, who last pitched Friday, which likely explains manager Rocco Baldelli's decision. Jax has done well in a high-leverage role this year, posting a 2.10 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 46:8 K:BB over 34.1 innings. He's added seven saves and 12 holds, though he's likely to remain second in the hierarchy for closing duties.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Twins' Griffin Jax: Gets sixth save Sunday
Griffin Jax allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in an 8-7 win over the Athletics in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader.Jax hadn't logged a save since May 10, but he received the opportunity to do so Sunday after Jhoan Duran closed out the matinee game. While the two relievers initially shared closing duties early in May, Duran has been the Minnesota Twins' main closer for about a month while Jax has settled into a setup role. Jax has been excellent all year with a 2.30 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 43:8 K:BB with six saves, 12 holds and two blown saves over 31.1 innings.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Twins' Griffin Jax: Escapes with fifth save
Griffin Jax gave up a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth inning Friday while striking out one, recording his fifth save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Blue Jays.Jhoan Duran got the call in the eighth inning to face the top of Toronto's order, leaving the ninth for Jax, but Jax ran into trouble with two outs after a Bo Bichette single kicked off a Jays rally. Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli has been using Duran as a relief ace rather than a pure closer and Duran has three saves and three holds in six appearances since coming off the IL in late April, but Jax hasn't been the sole beneficiary of the available opportunities -- Caleb Thielbar and Cole Sands have also picked up saves since Duran's season debut. Brock Stewart (shoulder) could also end up in that mix once he gets healthy. Jax has a 3.06 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 23:7 K:BB through 17.2 innings on the season, and while Duran should see the majority of the save chances for the Twins, his main understudy could creep into the low double digits in saves by the time the season is done.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Twins' Griffin Jax: Duran returns from IL
Griffin Jax will likely shift into a setup role since the Minnesota Twins reinstated Jhoan Duran (oblique) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.Jax pitched well as the fill-in closer to begin the season with four saves, a 2.25 ERA and 17:4 K:BB across 12 innings, but it appears his time in the role is now up. The right-hander should still see plenty of high-leverage opportunities as a setup man, but his fantasy utility will likely be minimal while Duran is healthy.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Twins' Griffin Jax: Secures fourth save
Griffin Jax earned the save Thursday against the White Sox, striking out one over a scoreless two-thirds of an inning.Jax entered the game with one out and the bases loaded to protect a four-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, and he got Eloy Jimenez to go down swinging before Robbie Grossman reached on a fielding error, bringing home a run. Jax's next pitch coaxed a groundout from Andrew Vaughn to secure his fourth save of the season. The right-hander has not allowed a run in any of his last four appearances and has held his opponents hitless in each of his last three, striking out four over that stretch while not issuing any walks. However, Jax's stint as closer is likely about to end with Jhoan Duran (oblique) on a rehab assignment at Triple-A St. Paul and poised to make his 2024 debut within the next week or so.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Twins' Griffin Jax: Notches another save
Griffin Jax pitched a perfect ninth inning and struck out one to pick up his third save of the season Wednesday against the White Sox.Jax seems to have taken hold of the closing job in place of Jhoan Duran, who's in the midst of a rehab assignment after suffering an oblique injury late in camp. Jax has twirled back-to-back perfect innings for a pair of saves and owns a 2.70 ERA with a 14:3 K:BB over 11 appearances (10 innings), but his run in the ninth inning will likely come to an end soon with Duran nearing activation.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Twins' Griffin Jax: Picks up save No. 2
Griffin Jax pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts against the Tigers on Saturday en route to his second save of the season.Called upon to protect a one-run lead, Jax was nails Saturday, retiring the side in order on 12 pitches. He reached as high as 96.9 mph on his fastball and earned his first save since Opening Day. While Jax appears to be first in line for save chances right now, he doesn't seem to have much of a window with Jhoan Duran (oblique) closing in on a rehab assignment. Duran threw 21 pitches in live batting practice Friday.