Griffin Jax

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Griffin Jax could be a sleeping giant for fantasy as he enters Spring Training as one of the top weapons in Kevin Cash's bullpen. Fantasy players know Cash loves to mix-and-match his relievers, but Pete Fairbanks - now on the Marlins - posted between 23 and 27 saves each of the last three seasons, so there is high save volume available read more...

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Griffin Jax could be a sleeping giant for fantasy as he enters Spring Training as one of the top weapons in Kevin Cash's bullpen. Fantasy players know Cash loves to mix-and-match his relievers, but Pete Fairbanks - now on the Marlins - posted between 23 and 27 saves each of the last three seasons, so there is high save volume available in Tampa. Jax has all the tools to thrive as an elite RP for fantasy. Among qualified relievers, Jax ranked second in K/9 by posting a whopping 99 strikeouts over just 66 innings last year. His rate-based metrics were even more impressive as his 18.3% swinging-strike rate and 35.4% K-rate ranked fourth and seventh among relievers, respectively. Don't be fooled by an elevated 4.23 ERA, relievers are more prone to high ERAs based on the small sample in which they work. Jax's 2.51 FIP, 2.19 xFIP, and 2.35 SIERA are more indicative of his elite talent and fantasy players should expect a sub-three ERA from the righty. Jax has all the strikeout upside you can ask for from a reliever and he should earn plenty of save chances as the highest-leverage reliever for the Rays. He's a screaming value in fantasy for drafters hunting for an RP outside the top-200 of average draft position.less...