Griffin Jax DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Minnesota Twins reliever Griffin Jax blew a save opportunity in Sunday's 9-7 extra-innings loss to the Houston Astros. The 30-year-old punched out three batters but allowed three hits and two earned in the outing. Jax entered the contest with a 7-5 lead, letting up an Isaac Paredes single and Yordan Alvarez two-run shot to open the inning. Christian Walker then doubled to center, but Jax was able to retire the next three batters via the K. It's an outing to forget for the righty, who has afforded his opponents at least one hit in each appearance thus far. He's in no danger of losing his role as the primary setup man and has historically been a better reliever. Still, 2025 has started shaky, as he holds an inflated 10.13 ERA.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Griffin Jax will remain in the team's bullpen for the upcoming 2025 season, according to general manager Jeremy Zoll. Fourteen of Jax's 18 outings in his rookie season for the Twins in 2021 came in a starting role, but he has not started a game in the big leagues since. Last year in a career-high 72 appearances out of the bullpen, he was excellent, posting a career-best 2.03 ERA (1.94 FIP), a 0.87 WHIP, a career-high 10 saves, a career-high 95 strikeouts and a career-low 15 walks in 71 innings pitched. Although the 30-year-old could again see more save chances in 2025, he'll most likely be more of an asset for fantasy managers in saves leagues as Minnesota's primary eighth-inning setup man. In addition to his 10 saves in 2024, Jax also recorded 24 holds in his breakout season as a high-leverage bullpen arm.

Minnesota Twins bench coach Jayce Tingler said that the team is leaving open the possibility of moving right-handed reliever Griffin Jax into the starting rotation next season. The Twins already have a pretty deep rotation, but Jax could join that list next year. The 29-year-old former third-round pick in 2016 out of Air Force was outstanding in his 72 appearances out of the Twins' bullpen in 2024 in his fourth year in the big leagues. Jax had a career-best 2.03 ERA (1.94 FIP), a career-high 10 saves, a 0.87 WHIP, a career-high 95 strikeouts and only 15 walks in 71 innings pitched. He's been a workhorse for Minnesota the last three years, combining for a 3.06 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 15 saves and a 241:54 K:BB in 208 2/3 frames. Jax was an excellent source of holds and ratios as a reliever, and while he'd have plenty of value as a starter, too, his innings would also certainly be capped.