Robbie Ray Injury News & Updates

The Mariners transferred Ray (elbow) to the 60-day injured list on Monday, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.

Ray underwent Tommy John surgery in May and will be out until midway through 2024, so it's hardly a surprise to see him land on the 60-day IL. His transfer makes room for Ty Adcock to join the Mariners' bullpen while Penn Murfee (elbow) is out.

Ray underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The procedure was performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Texas at the TMI Sports Medicine facility. Ray will travel to Arizona in a few weeks following his initial recovery to begin his rehab. The left-hander has already been ruled out for the remainder of the 2023 season, and it's very likely that Ray will miss time to begin the 2024 campaign as well.

Mariners manager Scott Servais announced Wednesday that Ray is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his left elbow, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

After landing on the injured list April 1 with a left flexor strain, Ray was hopeful that rest and rehab would be enough for him to heal from the injury and return to the Seattle rotation around the middle of May. However, with Ray having not made enough progress in the three-plus weeks since suffering the injury to even resume playing catch, he was sent in for additional tests, which revealed damage to a different area of the flexor tendon. With surgery deemed necessary, Ray's 2023 campaign will come to an end with him having made just one start. Chris Flexen has entered the rotation since Ray was first shut down with the elbow injury, but Servais suggested that the organization will re-evaluate its starting depth with the knowledge that the 2021 American League Cy Young Award winner is done for the season.

Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto believes that Ray (elbow) could return in the middle of May, but that it's just a guess at this point, Jen Mueller of Root Sports Northwest reports.

Ray has not resumed a throwing program as of yet as he recovers from the flexor strain he suffered in his first start of the season March 31. The left-hander will need to throw several bullpens and make at least a couple of rehab starts before he rejoins the Seattle rotation. It's just as possible that Ray will be making his return for the Mariners in June or later at this point.

Ray (elbow) told reporters before Tuesday's game against the Brewers that he's not quite ready to begin a throwing program, but that the progression on his left flexor strain has been good and he'll undergo an MRI later this week, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Ray was placed on the injured list after making just one start because of the flexor strain. The results of the imaging will likely determine when the 31-year-old will be able to start throwing. The hope was that Ray would miss around a month after the injury was announced, and he still has a chance to return to the mound around the start of May.

Ray (elbow) will be re-evaluated Monday, after which a throwing program could be mapped out, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Manager Scott Servais said Ray looks good and feels good, so it sounds like the doctors will evaluate him before clearing him to begin the throwing program. Ray could require multiple rehab starts to get built back up, so a return in early May seems like a best-case scenario.

Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters that Ray (elbow) hasn't started throwing yet but is feeling better, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Ray is still waiting for clearance to throw after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 flexor strain after his first start of the season on April 1. The left-hander is expected to miss at least a month of the campaign while recovering, but there's no clear timeline for the 2021 Cy Young winner.

Ray's MRI on Saturday revealed that he's dealing with a Grade 1 flexor strain, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Ray will be shut down for two weeks while receiving daily treatment and then will be reevaluated. The left-hander told reporters that he didn't experience any pain until the second inning of Friday's start against the Guardians. There's no timetable for Ray to return, but it appears that the 31-year-old will miss at least a month before he's able to return to the mound for the Mariners. Chris Flexen will very likely take his place in the rotation.

Ray was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left flexor strain Saturday.

Ray didn't look right against the Guardians on Friday, walking five batters in 3.1 innings while giving up five runs (three earned). A timeline for his return has not yet been established. Chris Flexen, who's started 53 games over the last two years, is likely to step into the rotation in his place, though the Mariners have yet to confirm their plans.

Ray (0-1) took the loss Friday as the Mariners fell 9-4 to the Guardians, giving up five runs (three earned) on four hits and five walks over 3.1 innings. He struck out three.

A pair of throwing errors on the same play in the second inning -- one by Teoscar Hernandez and the other by Ray himself -- led to Cleveland's first two runs and softened the blow to the southpaw's ERA, but the fact that he threw only 51 of 91 pitches for strikes played a bigger role in his early exit. Ray's success the last two seasons has been built on improved command and a walk rate below 10 percent, and it's far too early to assume he's fallen back into old, wild habits. The 31-year-old will look to bounce back in his next start, likely coming Wednesday at home against the Angels.

Ray allowed a run over five innings in Saturday's Cactus League start against the Diamondbacks.

Ray allowed just two hits in the outing, and he struck out five with one walk. The left-hander was sensational in his time this spring with a 1.06 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 26:6 K:BB ratio. The 2021 Cy Young winner is slotted to pitch behind Luis Castillo in the Seattle rotation, and he could be in for a strong 2023 campaign based on his results this spring.

Ray has a 1.13 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB across eight innings in three Cactus League starts.

Ray worked up to 28 pitches in his most recent start Monday against the Angels, and although he's pitched to some contact (seven hits), he' s impressively limited the damage. Ray scuffled to a 12-12 record in Mariners debut campaign in 2022, but he still generated an impressive 3.71 ERA and respectable 1.19 WHIP across 32 starts. The veteran southpaw's strikeout rate did drop from 2021's 32.1 percent in Toronto to 27.4 percent, however, but early returns this spring underscore that Ray's ability to miss bats at an above-average clip remains alive and well.

Ray will start for the Mariners in Friday's spring training opener versus the Padres, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Ray will get the ball first as the Mariners try and build off of a very successful 2022 campaign, making the playoffs for the first time in over 20 years. The left-hander produced a 3.71 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 212 strikeouts over 189 innings in 32 starts with Seattle last season.

Ray (12-12) allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 5.2 innings, taking the loss Sunday versus the Athletics.

Ray started off well enough in this one, but he yielded homers to Shea Langeliers, Cristian Pache and Nick Allen between the fourth and sixth innings. This was the third time all year Ray's allowed three homers in a game, and he's given up multiple long balls in three of his last five outings. The southpaw didn't come close to matching his Cy Young season from a year ago, ending the 2022 regular season with a 3.71 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 212:62 K:BB and 32 homers allowed across 189 innings through 32 starts. The Mariners will likely be counting on him to get things sorted out in his next start, which is expected to be during the wild-card round.

Ray (12-11) took the loss during Tuesday's 5-0 defeat at the hands of the Rangers, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings.

Ray served up a Josh Jung solo shot in the second inning and another run in the sixth before departing with two out and the bases loaded, but reliever Penn Murfee was able to induce a ground out to end the frame. The two earned runs were enough for the loss as Seattle failed to score, and the 30-year-old has now lost three of four starts while pitching to a 4.57 ERA across 21.2 innings during the stretch. He carries a 3.58 ERA and 1.17 WHIP into his next start, tentatively scheduled to come Sunday against Oakland.

Ray did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing zero runs on three hits and three walks over six innings against the Athletics. He struck out seven.

Ray issued back-to-back walks in the first but managed to escape the inning unscathed. From there he went on to allow just three singles and a walk until being pulled after the sixth inning. It was a nice bounce-back for the left-hander, who had allowed four or more runs in each of his last two starts. Up next for Ray is a matchup against the Rangers at home.

Ray (12-10) took the loss Friday versus the Angels. He allowed five runs on eight hits and a walk with five strikeouts in five innings.

Ray had trouble in the first, third and fifth innings, and the Mariners tried but failed to tie the game after the southpaw's exit. After a seven-start stretch in which he surrendered only four home runs, he's given up that many long balls across his last two outings. He now has a 3.72 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 194:54 K:BB across 171.2 innings through 29 starts. Ray will look to get back on track next week in a favorable projected road start in Oakland.

Ray (12-9) took the loss during Friday's 6-4 defeat to Atlanta, allowing four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in five innings.

Ray fell behind 2-0 two batters into the game thanks to a Dansby Swanson home run and surrendered additional runs in the fourth and fifth to fall in line for the loss. The 30-year-old induced a healthy 13 swinging strikes on 95 pitches in recording six strikeouts, though he's failed to surpass that total in consecutive outings after doing so in all five of his August starts. The subpar start upped Ray's ERA and WHIP to 3.56 and 1.15 respectively, and he's scheduled to pitch again next weekend versus the Angels.

Ray (12-8) earned the win during Saturday's 4-0 victory over the Guardians, allowing six hits while recording three strikeouts across six shutout innings.

Ray permitted two hits in each of the first, third and fifth innings but kept Cleveland off the board with the help of a pickoff and double play. The 30-year-old's impressive August carried into September as he's now surrendered just six runs in 39 innings across his last six starts -- good for a 1.38 ERA. Saturday's three strikeouts mark his lowest total during the stretch though he still induced a healthy 10 swinging strikes on 87 pitches. Ray carries a 3.45 ERA and 1.13 WHIP into his next start, scheduled to come against at home against Atlanta next weekend.

Ray (11-8) allowed three hits and struck out seven without walking a batter across seven shutout innings to earn the win over the Guardians on Sunday.

Ray closed out a fantastic August with his fifth straight quality start, and this one was his best of the bunch. He posted a 1.64 ERA and 41:11 K:BB through 33 innings across those five starts, and he's won three in a row. The sharp month lowered Ray's season ERA to 3.58 with a 1.14 WHIP and 180:53 K:BB through 155.2 innings across 26 starts. He's lined up for a rematch with the Guardians in Cleveland next weekend.

Ray (10-8) allowed a run on two hits and two walks while striking out seven in 6.2 innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Nationals.

Ray carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, though that ended with Joey Meneses' leadoff solo home run. That was the only run against Ray in a dominant outing against a much weaker Nationals team. The southpaw has turned in four straight quality starts in August after a pair of ugly starts versus the Astros to close out July. For the season, he has a 3.75 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 173:53 K:BB through 148.2 innings across 25 starts. Ray is expected to make his next start this weekend versus the Guardians.

Ray (9-8) earned the win during Tuesday's 8-2 victory over the Angels, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts in six innings.

Ray surrendered two early runs to fall behind, but the Mariners offense scored three in the fifth and added insurance in the ninth to put Ray back above .500 on the season. The 30-year-old has opened August strong with a 2.32 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 19.1 innings across three starts, though walks remain a problem as he issued multiple free passes for the fourth straight turn. Ray carries a 3.87 ERA and 1.20 WHIP into his next start, slated for next week against Washington.

Ray allowed two earned runs on three hits and five walks while striking out seven across 6.1 innings Wednesday against the Yankees. He did not factor into the decision.

Ray was effective from a run suppression standpoint, allowing only a two-run home run to Kyle Higashioka. However, he lost control of his pitches for most of his start and has now walked 11 batters across his last 16 innings and three starts -- though he still has a 3.94 ERA in that span. For the season, Ray has a 3.90 ERA with a 156:49 K:BB across 136 frames.

Ray didn't factor into the decision during Friday's 4-3 loss to the Angels, allowing one run on five hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts in seven innings.

Ray surrendered his lone run on consecutive two-out hits in the first inning but was able to limit the damage thereafter aside from a Magneuris Sierra near inside-the-park home run in the second. It was a nice rebound outing for the 30-year-old as he had failed to make it past the third inning in each of his last two starts, and the 10 strikeouts mark the third time in his last six turns he's reached double digits. Ray sports a 3.96 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with a 149 strikeouts in 129.2 innings across 22 turns. He lines up to toe the rubber again midweek against the Yankees.

Ray (8-8) gave up four earned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out three over 2.2 innings to take the loss in an 11-1 defeat to the Astros on Friday.

Ray struggled with his control, issuing four free passes to a dangerous Astros lineup which made him pay with good situational hitting. Ray was chased in the third inning after a walk to Mauricio Dubon which raised his pitch count to 84. It has been a difficult first season in Seattle for the 2021 AL Cy Young Award winner. Ray continues to get plenty of punchouts with his power slider but his BB/9 has ticked up to 3.1 from 2.4 in 2021, while his LOB% has dropped to 77.5% from 90.1% last season. Ray is tentatively scheduled to start against the depleted Angels lineup on Thursday.

Ray (8-7) allowed six runs on 10 hits and struck out only one in three innings, taking the loss Sunday versus the Astros.

Ray gave up solo home runs to the first two batters he faced (Jose Altuve and Jeremy Pena). It didn't get better from there for the Mariners' ace, as he allowed three more runs in the second inning and another in the third before he was pulled at 62 pitches. There was no report of an injury for Ray, so it's possible this was just rust after he went nine days between starts. His quality start streak ended at seven, and he now has a 3.90 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 136:38 K:BB through 120 innings in 20 starts. He's projected for a road start against these same Astros next week.

Ray (8-6) allowed three runs on six hits over 6.2 frames Friday, striking out 12 and earning a win over Texas.

Ray cruised through five shutout innings before coughing up a solo home run to Corey Seager in the sixth and a two-run shot to Leody Taveres in the seventh. His 12 punchouts tied a season best and it was his fifth time recording at least 10. Since his last loss June 1, Ray is 4-0 with a 1.75 ERA over his eight starts. On the year, his ERA has dropped to 3.54 alongside a stellar 135:38 K:BB through 116 frames.

Ray allowed one run on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts over six innings in a no-decision versus the Blue Jays on Saturday.

The lone run against Ray came in the form of a George Springer solo home run in the sixth inning. The southpaw was let off the hook when Carlos Santana put the Mariners ahead with a two-run blast in the seventh. Over his last six games, Ray has allowed four runs, 18 hits, 11 walks and three hit batters while striking out 46 in 39.2 innings. The southpaw's return to ace form has seen him trim his ERA from 4.97 to 3.51 over that stretch, and he's added a 1.11 WHIP and 123:38 K:BB in 110.1 innings overall in 18 starts. Ray is projected for a road start at Texas next week.

Ray (7-6) allowed a run on four hits and two walks while striking out 12 in 6.2 innings to earn the win Sunday over the Athletics.

Ray ran his streak of dominance up to five starts -- he's given up three runs across his last 33.2 innings, though he's been unlucky to earn only two wins in that span. The southpaw also gave up his first home run in that stretch when Elvis Andrus took him deep in the seventh inning. Sunday's start was also Ray's fourth of the year with double-digit strikeouts. He has a 3.62 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 117:36 K:BB through 104.1 innings. The 30-year-old is lined up for a home start against his former team, the Blue Jays, next weekend.

Ray allowed a hit and three walks while striking out eight over seven innings in a no-decision versus the Orioles on Tuesday.

Ray extended his streak of starts without allowing more than one run to four with another dominant performance, arguably his best of the year. He nearly got into trouble in the fourth inning, but he was able to escape having two runners in scoring position without giving anything up. The southpaw trimmed his ERA to 3.78 with a 1.14 WHIP and 105:34 K:BB across 97.2 innings overall. Ray lines up for a favorable home start versus the Athletics this weekend as he looks to carry his strong pitching from June into July.

Ray allowed a run on four hits, two walks and a hit batter while striking out six over six innings in a no-decision versus the Athletics on Thursday.

Ray gave up an RBI single to Christian Bethancourt in the first inning. For much of the game, it looked like that would lead to a hard-luck loss, but the Mariners scraped together two runs in the ninth inning to get the southpaw off the hook. Ray has turned in three straight quality starts, allowing two runs, 10 hits and four walks across his last 20 innings. For the season, he's trimmed his ERA to 4.07 with a 1.18 WHIP and 97:31 K:BB across 90.2 innings in 15 starts. He'll look to keep things rolling in a projected home start versus the Orioles next week.

Ray (6-6) allowed one run on three hits, a walk and a hit batter while striking out 10 over seven-plus innings to earn the win Friday versus the Angels.

Ray hit a batter and issued his lone walk in the first inning before turning dominant. He allowed his first hit in the seventh, and a couple of extra-base knocks in the eighth ended his night after 102 pitches (68 strikes). His last two starts have been some of his best work of the year, as he's given up only one run across his last 14 innings. Overall, the 30-year-old has a 4.25 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 91:29 K:BB through 84.2 innings in 14 starts. He lines up for a road start versus the struggling Athletics next week.

Ray didn't factor into the decision during Sunday's 2-0 loss to Boston, allowing three hits and one walk with four strikeouts in seven scoreless innings.

Ray and Boston starter Kutter Crawford engaged in an unlikely pitcher's duel which prevented the reigning Cy-Young winner from earning the victory despite posting a season-high 74 game score. The 30-year-old lefty has been mostly middling this season with an ERA stuck between 3.91 and 4.97 since April 13 but has been workhorse as his 76.2 innings rank third in MLB. Ray's slated to pitch again next weekend against the Angels.

Ray (5-6) earned the win over Houston on Monday, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and three walks while striking out three over five innings.

Ray was lit up for four runs -- the first three of which came on solo homers -- over his first two innings, but he was able to keep the Astros off the scoreboard over his final three frames to eke out a win. The southpaw allowed at least one baserunner in every inning in which he pitched and managed a season-low three strikeouts, so he clearly wasn't at the top of his game despite the victory. Ray has given up at least three earned runs in each of his past five starts and has consequently seen his ERA rise to an uninspiring 4.97 on the season. He'll likely make his next start at home against Boston this weekend.

Ray (4-6) allowed four earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six across five innings to take the loss Wednesday against Baltimore.

Ray was undone by a poor second inning, as he allowed two of the first three batters he faced to reach base prior to serving up a three-run homer to Rougned Odor. Ray has now allowed a home run in each of his last six starts, resulting in a 5.64 ERA in that span. He's racked up 74 strikeouts across 65.2 innings this season, but his 4.93 ERA remains inflated due to his inability to keep the ball in the yard.

Ray (4-5) took the loss Wednesday, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk over six innings as the Mariners fell 4-2 to the A's. He struck out 10.

The 10 whiffs tied his season high, as Ray fired 60 of 95 pitches for strikes in his fourth quality start of the year. Home runs continue to be an issue for the southpaw, however -- he got taken deep twice Wednesday and has served up homers in five straight starts, leaving him with a 4.75 ERA and 1.48 HR/9 despite a solid 1.20 WHIP and 68:21 K:BB through 60.2 innings.

Ray (4-4) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks over six innings Friday, striking out eight and taking a loss against Boston.

Despite the poor final line, the only damage against Ray was Trevor Story's two-out grand slam in the third inning. He's now allowed a home run in four straight starts as his ERA jumped to 4.77 through 54.2 frames this season. The 30-year-old lefty has allowed at least four runs in three of his last four outings but he's posted a 32:8 K:BB during that stretch. Ray is lined up to face Oakland at home next week.

Ray (4-3) allowed five runs on five hits and three walks while striking out nine in six innings to earn the win over the Mets on Sunday.

Ray exhibited decent command in Sunday's start, tossing 63 of his 97 pitches for strikes. However, he allowed plenty of baserunners and gave up five runs over the first four innings of the game. Although the southpaw allowed at least five runs in a start for just the second time this season, he got plenty of run support from the Mariners and picked up his second consecutive win. Ray has posted a 4.62 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 48.2 innings over eight starts in 2022, and he tentatively lines up to make his next start on the road against Boston on Friday.

Ray (3-3) registered the win during Tuesday's 5-4 victory over Philadelphia, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts in 5.2 innings.

Ray retired the first 12 Phillies before encountering trouble in the fifth inning, surrendering two runs on a Nick Castellanos solo shot and a Jean Segura walk plus two wild pitches. The 30-year-old has now surpassed the 100-pitch threshold in consecutive starts and induced an impressive 21 swinging strikes Tuesday. Despite the positive notes, Ray has surrendered multiple earned runs in every start since Opening Day and sits with a 4.22 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. He's tentatively lined up to face the Mets in New York on Sunday for a second start this week.

Ray (2-3) suffered the loss against the Rays on Thursday, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk over 6.2 innings. He struck out five.

Ray had one bad inning in the start -- Tampa Bay netted four runs against him in the fourth -- but that was enough to seal his fate on a night when Seattle produced only three runs. The southpaw nonetheless can take some positives away from the performance, as he racked up 15 swinging strikes and tossed his most innings since his first start of the campaign. Ray has gone at least six frames in all but one of his appearances this season and has a 4.38 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 31:13 K:BB across 30.1 innings. He's line up to face Philadelphia at home early next week.

Ray (2-2) was charged with the loss against the Marlins on Saturday, allowing three earned runs on four hits and four walks across five innings while recording eight strikeouts.

Ray had his swing-and-miss stuff in season-best form Saturday, but he also tied a season high with four walks. The veteran southpaw had mostly breezed through his first four frames before the Marlins got to him in the fifth with a pair of RBI singles and by drawing a free pass with the bases loaded. Ray's first opportunity to make up for the stumble is slated come at home against the Rays either Thursday or Friday.

Ray struck out five in six innings, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk in a 5-4 extra-inning win Sunday against Kansas City.

Ray allowed a pair of RBI doubles in the third inning but otherwise kept the Royals' lineup in check. He left the game with a 3-2 lead and was in position to earn the victory. A ninth-inning homer by Hunter Dozier erased that possibility. The lefty has thrown at least six innings in each start this season and leads all of baseball with 25.1 innings pitched. Surprisingly, Ray has been pitching more to contact and has only fanned 18 batters so far. His next start will likely be next weekend in Miami.

Ray (2-1) picked up the win during Tuesday's 6-2 victory over Texas, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk with four strikeouts in six innings.

Seattle jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after the first inning and Ray cruised from there, permitting single runs in the third and seventh innings and requiring just 85 pitches. It was a nice rebound from last starts six-run outing against the White Sox, and the 30-year-old has now gone at least six innings in each of his three turns. He's tentatively slated to pitch again this week on Sunday against Kansas City.

Ray allowed six runs on 10 hits and four walks while striking out four across 6.1 innings during Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the White Sox. He earned his first loss of the season.

Ray allowed four runs in the second inning, capped off by a two-run double by Tim Anderson. The left-hander was able to steady the ship until he allowed back-to-back homers to Anderson and Luis Robert in the seventh inning. All things considered, it wasn't a terrible outing for the veteran against a lineup that has notoriously dominated left-handed pitching. After signing a five-year, $115 million deal this past offseason, the 2021 AL Cy Young winner has struck out nine across 13.1 innings of work during his first two starts as a Mariner. Ray is tentatively scheduled to face the Rangers at home next Tuesday.

Ray (1-0) allowed one run on three hits and four walks over seven innings Friday, striking out five and earning a win over the Twins.

Making his first start after landing a $115 million deal last offseason, Ray fired 96 pitches across seven innings of one-run ball. The lone blemish on his outing was a solo shot by Gio Urshela in the fourth frame. The 6-foot-2 southpaw has dealt with command issues throughout his career, registering a career 3.9 BB/9 entering the 2022 campaign, so the four walks shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Ray is expected to face the White Sox on the road next week.

Ray and the Mariners won't face the Twins on Thursday after the Opening Day game for both teams was postponed due to inclement weather in Minnesota.

The contest was rescheduled for Friday, which was originally an off day in the schedule amid the three-game series. Ray remains in line to start Friday's game, which will keep the other four members of the rotation on their normal pitching schedules. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner closed his first spring with the Mariners with a 4.61 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 13.2 innings over his three starts.

Manager Scott Servais said Thursday that Ray will start the Mariners' Opening Day game April 7 in Minnesota, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Ray will unseat Marco Gonzales as the Mariners' No. 1 starter this season after Seattle brought him aboard on a five-year, $115 million deal following his improbable run to the American League's Cy Young Award in 2021 while he was with Toronto. The southpaw has always made bats miss at a prolific clip, but he reached a new level of success thanks largely to cutting his walk rate all the way down to 6.7 percent last season after turning in rates north of 10 percent in each of the previous four years. So long as he proves that he can keep the free passes to a minimum, Ray shouldn't take too much of a step back statistically with the move from Toronto to Seattle.

Ray was credited with the victory in a Cactus League win over the Rangers on Monday, allowing two earned runs on two hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out six.

The left-hander held the Rangers at bay for the first four frames before yielding a pair of runs on a lineout and double by Charlie Culberson and Marcus Semien, respectively. Despite those stumbles, Ray once again missed plenty of bats, pushing his spring strikeout total to 11 over his first two Cactus League turns.

Ray tossed four innings in his Cactus League debut against the Cubs on Tuesday, allowing two earned runs on a hit and two walks. He struck out five.

The prized offseason acquisition was originally slated for three frames, but thanks to his efficiency, he was able to work the extra inning and still log a relatively modest 57 pitches. Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports Ray's fastball topped out at 95 mph and he frequently complemented it successfully with his trademark slider, allowing him to strike out five of the 16 hitters he faced. Manager Scott Servais has implied he won't begin thinking about his Opening Day starter until he's had a chance to see each starting pitcher once this spring, but he emphasized how impressed he was with Ray's initial performance.

Ray, who threw his first bullpen and live batting practice sessions with the Mariners earlier in the week, has already made an impression on his new teammates with his pitch arsenal and intensity, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. "He's a pretty intense guy," catcher Tom Murphy said. "We see him floating around here, he hasn't said much to everybody, but you can tell he's all business."

Ray gave several of his new teammates an up-close look at the stuff that helped garner him the AL Cy Young award last season, impressing the likes of Steven Souza, Jarred Kelenic and Murphy with his fastball and slider. The veteran southpaw's approach and path to success has also caught the eye of manager Scott Servais, who noted Ray has been persistent throughout the years in experimenting with a variety of deliveries until finding the right fit. The Mariners made their heaviest investment in a player yet during president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto's seven-year tenure when they gave Ray a $115 million contract this winter, with the expectation he'll serve as a clear-cut top-of-the-rotation piece.

Ray signed a five-year, $115 million contract with the Mariners on Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Ray won the 2021 AL Cy Young Award after he posted a 2.84 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 193.1 innings across 32 starts during his first full season with the Blue Jays. The 30-year-old will now be rewarded with a long-term deal that includes an opt-out clause following the 2024 season.

Ray was announced as the winner of the 2021 American League Cy Young Award on Wednesday, Baseball Writers' Association of America reports.

Ray received 29 of 30 first-place votes for a resurgent season in which he posted a 2.84 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 248:52 K:BB across 193.1 innings. The award win means he'll pocket an additional $150,000 incentive as he heads to free agency after turning down Toronto's $18.4 million qualifying offer for 2022. The Blue Jays will now receive draft-pick compensation should he sign elsewhere, but the team is likely still interested in retaining him.

Ray rejected the Blue Jays' $18.4 million qualifying offer for 2022 prior to Wednesday's deadline, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Ray provided an excellent return on the Jays' one-year, $8 million investment this past season, and he'll pocket an additional $150,000 if he's named the American League Cy Young Award winner later Thursday. Though the qualifying offer would double his salary for 2022, Ray shouldn't have trouble securing a multi-year deal at a higher annual average value coming off a breakthrough campaign in which he submitted a 2.84 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP and 248 strikeouts over 193.1 innings. Toronto will receive a compensatory draft pick if Ray heads elsewhere, but expect the Blue Jays to at least make an effort to retain him, even if they're ultimately outbid for services.

The Blue Jays extended a qualifying offer to Ray on Saturday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

With Ray coming off the best year of his career, he will surely turn down the one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer. He is one of the favorites to win the AL Cy Young award.

Ray (13-7) allowed five earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four across 5.1 innings to take the loss Thursday against the Yankees.

Ray allowed only a solo home run through five innings, but he surrendered three long balls in his final frame to sink his outing. Though he has been excellent for much of the season, Ray has stumbled a bit down the stretch by allowing 13 earned runs across 27.1 frames spanning his last five starts. Even so, Ray ends the regular season with a 2.84 ERA and a 248:53 K:BB across 193.1 innings and should be in consideration for the American League Cy Young.

Ray (13-6) allowed a run on three hits and four walks with six strikeouts in six innings to earn the win Saturday versus Minnesota.

The southpaw gave up a sacrifice fly in the first inning, but that was the only run Minnesota scored in the game. Ray's September hasn't been as smooth as his August, as he's allowed eight runs in each month, but in just 28.2 innings this month as opposed to 41 frames last month. He's still been excellent more often than not in 2021 with a 2.68 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 244:49 K:BB across 188 innings. His last start of the regular season lines up as a pivotal home showdown versus the Yankees next week.

Ray (12-6) allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over 4.2 innings Monday as he took the loss to the Rays.

Things were going smoothly for Ray until the fifth inning when he allowed a three-run home run to Yandy Diaz to give the Rays a 3-2 lead. Ray stayed in for two more batters after the long ball and then was pulled after surrendering a double to Randy Arozerena at 97 pitches. It was the second time Ray's failed to reach five innings over his last three starts but it was just his first loss since July 21. The 2021 Cy Young candidate now has a 2.72 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 238:45 K:BB over 182 innings and will have a good opportunity to bounce back against the Twins over the weekend.

Ray (12-5) picked up the win in Wednesday's 6-3 victory over the Rays, allowing one run on four hits over seven innings. He struck out 13 without walking a batter.

The lefty continues to steamroll the opposition, regardless of who he's facing. Ray has fanned double-digit batters in five of his last six starts, lowering his ERA to 2.64 and WHIP to 1.01 -- both career bests, if he maintains that pace through his final outings -- while taking the MLB lead in strikeouts at 233 and bolstering his Cy Young case.

Ray (11-5) allowed one hit and three walks over 6.2 scoreless innings while striking out 10 to earn the win over Oakland on Sunday.

After the first two games between these teams were slugfests, Ray made sure the series finale was a lopsided affair. He posted his eighth straight quality start and his fourth outing in a row with double-digit strikeouts. The southpaw has produced plenty of gems lately, but this was one of his best. Ray has a 2.60 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 212:41 K:BB through 166 innings this year. He'll look to keep rolling in an extremely favorable road matchup versus Baltimore during next weekend's series.

Ray (10-5) picked up the win in Monday's 7-3 victory over the Orioles, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out 10.

The southpaw is on an incredible roll, reeling off seven straight quality starts and fanning double-digit batters in three straight. Ray has a 1.72 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 60:11 K:BB through 47 innings over that stretch, and Monday's performance got him to 202 strikeouts on the year -- the fourth time in his career he's reached 200 Ks.

Ray allowed one run on five hits, a walk and a hit batter while striking out a season-high 14 in seven innings versus the White Sox on Wednesday. He did not factor in the decision.

In what's become a recurring theme, Ray was excellent on the mount in his sixth straight quality start, but he's now left five consecutive starts with no decision. Wednesday was the seventh time the southpaw racked up double-digits in strikeouts, and he now has 192 through 25 starts this year. The 29-year-old owns a strong 2.72 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, but his record remains stuck at 9-5. He'll continue the search for an elusive 10th win at home versus lowly Baltimore next week.

Ray allowed a run on five hits and no walks while striking out 11 over eight innings in a no-decision versus Detroit on Friday.

The southpaw was excellent through seven innings Friday, but his offense didn't give him enough help. The only run scored on Ray's watch came on a wild pitch in the eighth inning. Despite allowing just four runs in his last 27 innings, he has not recorded a decision in his last four starts. The 29-year-old has a 2.79 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 178:36 K:BB across 145.1 innings this year. He'll try to get back in the win column in a tough home matchup versus the White Sox next week.

Ray went seven innings Friday, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts in a 3-2 loss to Seattle. He didn't factor into the decision.

Ray made one mistake all game - a two-run home run by Tom Murphy in the third - on his way to a fifth straight quality start. The lefty has gone at least six innings while throwing no more than 90 pitches in each of his last three starts and sports an excellent 2.88 ERA, his lowest mark since his 2017 All-Star campaign.

Ray didn't factor into the decision in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Red Sox after tossing six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while fanning five.

Ray has given up two or fewer runs in six of his last seven outings, including three in a row, and he has posted six quality starts during that span as well. The veteran has an excellent 1.85 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP across 43.2 innings since the beginning of July.

Ray allowed two runs on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts across six innings in a no-decision versus Cleveland on Monday.

This was Ray's seventh quality start in his last eight outings, the lone hiccup in that span being a July 21 appearances versus Boston. The southpaw gave up both runs Monday in the third inning, but Vladimir Guerrero's two-run blast in the sixth got him off the hook. The strong pitching lately has Ray's ERA at 3.04 with a 1.09 WHIP and 154:33 K:BB through 124.1 innings. He tentatively is set to make his next start versus Boston this weekend.

Ray (9-5) earned the win Wednesday against the Red Sox after tossing six innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out eight.

Ray started the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader and was crisp on the mound en route to his ninth win of the campaign. He managed to bounce back after the Red Sox trounced him for four runs -- including three homers -- across five innings in his previous outing, and he posted his ninth quality start since the beginning of June. In fact, he has allowed one or fewer runs in three of his last four appearances.

Ray won't start as scheduled Tuesday at Boston since the game was postponed due to inclement weather, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The game will be made up via a doubleheader Wednesday, and Ray figures to start one of those contests. He faced the Red Sox in his previous start July 21 and surrendered four runs, including three homers, across five innings.

Ray (8-5) was tagged with the loss Wednesday against Boston. He completed five innings, and allowing four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four.

Both Ray and opposing starter Garret Richards gave up three home runs in the contest, but Richards was able to go a little deeper into the game and picked up the win. Ray entered the contest having totaled 13.2 scoreless innings over his past two starts but couldn't contain Boston's bats, tying a season-worst mark by allowing four earned runs. The southpaw also notched his lowest strikeout total since April 18 after registering double-digit punchouts in four of his previous eight starts. He'll try to get back into the win column in his next appearance, which is tentatively scheduled to come in a rematch against Boston -- this time on the road -- early next week.

Ray (8-4) picked up the win in Friday's 10-2 victory over the Rangers, allowing four hits and two walks over 6.2 scoreless innings. He struck out eight.

The left-hander came out firing in the second half, tossing 66 of 100 pitches for strikes to extend his quality start streak to five. Ray has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since the beginning of June, posting a 2.11 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and remarkably efficient 78:14 K:BB through 55.1 innings over that stretch.

Ray (7-4) threw seven shutout innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out 11 to earn the win over Tampa Bay on Sunday.

The southpaw has been solid for much of the season, but he turned it up to dominance Sunday. The only hit Ray allowed was a Yandy Diaz double in the seventh inning. This was also Ray's fifth start with double-digit strikeouts this year. The 29-year-old has a 3.13 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 130:24 K:BB across 100.2 innings, his best ratios 2017. He projects to get a start in next weekend's three-game series versus Texas to open the second half of the season.

Ray is scheduled to start the Blue Jays' series finale in Tampa Bay on Sunday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Ray was initially lined up to make his final start of the first half on Saturday, but he'll be pushed back a day in the pitching schedule after Thursday's game against the Orioles was postponed due to inclement weather. The Blue Jays plan to go with Alek Manoah, Ross Stripling and Ray as their starters for the series in Tampa Bay, resulting in Steven Matz missing out on his second start of the week. With a 3.36 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a 119:23 K:BB across his 16 starts this season, Ray has a compelling case to be named an alternate in the All-Star Game next week if the American League needs to replace a pitcher.

Ray (6-3) earned the win Tuesday after holding the Mariners to three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out 10 across six innings.

Ray blanked the Mariners until the sixth inning, when Ty France broke through with a three-run long ball. Regardless, the southpaw continued to rack up the punchouts, recording his fourth double-digit effort of the season. It's been a solid month for Ray, who registered his fifth quality start out of six June outings and his 10th of the year. The 29-year-old is slated to take the mound again at home Sunday against Tampa Bay.

Ray (5-3) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over six innings in a 3-1 victory over the Marlins. He struck out six.

The southpaw delivered his fourth quality start in five June outings and ninth of the season as he took a shutout into the sixth inning before serving up a solo shot to Starling Marte. Ray will carry a 3.35 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 103:20 K:BB through 80.2 innings into his next start.

Ray (4-3) allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five in 4.1 innings to take the loss against the Orioles on Friday.

Ray had recorded double-digit strikeouts in each of his last two starts, but he was unable to get into a similar rhythm Friday. He gave up a leadoff home run in the first inning and allowed another run to come across by giving up three singles in the bottom of the fifth. The southpaw has now posted a 3.50 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 97:19 K:BB in 74.2 innings across his first 13 starts of the year. Ray tentatively lines up to make his next appearance on the road against Miami on Wednesday.

Ray (4-3) allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out 10 in six innings to earn the win against the Red Sox on Sunday.

Ray has now struck out at least nine batters in each of his last three starts, and he's picked up two wins during that time. He allowed a solo home run in the second inning before giving up a two-run double in the fifth, but he got plenty of run support from Toronto's offense in the 18-4 win. The southpaw tentatively lines up to make his next start on the road against Baltimore on Friday.

Ray completed 6.1 innings against the White Sox on Tuesday, allowing one run on five hits and no walks while striking out 13. He did not factor in the decision.

The southpaw was dominant in the start, registering a season-high 13 strikeouts and inducing 21 swings-and-misses. He didn't allow a run until the seventh inning, when the White Sox broke through for a run on an Andrew Vaughn homer. Toronto's offense offered little support, however, managing only one run to keep Ray from picking up the win. The veteran lowered his season ERA to 3.36 with the strong outing, and he has allowed exactly one run in three of his past four starts. Ray will look to extend the strong stretch in his next start, which is lined up to come against Boston at Fenway Park on Sunday.

Ray (3-2) allowed one earned run on six hits and two walks while striking out nine across six innings to earn the win Tuesday against the Marlins.

Ray ripped through the Marlins lineup, generating 22 swinging strikes on 96 total pitches to back up his nine strikeouts. The only damage against him came in the fifth inning when Starling Marte delivered an RBI double. For the season, Ray has maintained a 3.57 ERA with 69 strikeouts across 58 innings and 10 starts.

Ray (2-2) took the loss to the Yankees in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits over 4.2 innings. He struck out five and walked two.

Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez both took the lefty yard, Nos. 13 and 14 allowed by Ray this season. Credit to Ray for not compounding those issues with a ton of walks like in seasons past -- he has amazingly handed out only 12 free passes in 52 innings so far in 2021. Ray will take a 3.81 ERA and 1.12 WHIP into his next start, which projects to be a "home" matchup against the Marlins in Buffalo.

Ray allowed one earned run on five hits while striking out seven across seven innings in the loss to the Rays on Saturday. He did not factor into the decision.

The only damage against Ray came via a solo home run by Mike Zunino in the fifth inning. Unfortunately for Ray, he did not receive enough run support to get the win despite giving his best performance of the season. The 29-year-old has really struggled with keeping the ball in the park. He is tied with Tarik Skubal with most home runs allowed in all of baseball. Although he's surrendered 12 long balls in eight starts, he has managed to carry a respectable 3.42 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 47.1 innings.

Ray (2-1) allowed four runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out nine in 5.2 innings to earn the win against the Phillies on Sunday.

Ray has now struck out at least nine batters in each of his last three starts. He tossed four scoreless frames to begin Sunday's game but allowed four runs across the fifth and sixth innings prior to his removal. The left-hander has now posted a 3.79 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 40.1 innings across seven starts this season. Ray tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Rays on Saturday.

Ray allowed three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out a season-high 10 hitters over six innings Tuesday against Atlanta. He did not end up being involved in the decision.

Ray got off to a bumpy start after allowing two singles and a walk which led to a first-inning run for Atlanta. He later would also give up two solo home runs before his day was over. The 29-year-old has had a bit of an issue so far with the long ball, as he's given up eight so far over his first six outings, but overall he's been pretty reliable having gone at least five innings while surrendering three or fewer runs in each of his starts. He'll be in search of a win this weekend when he's next scheduled to take the mound at home against the Phillies.

Ray hurled six innings against Oakland on Wednesday, allowing three runs on six hits and no walks while striking out nine. He did not factor in the decision.

Ray served up a pair of solo shots -- one each to Matt Chapman and Ramon Laureano -- but was otherwise fairly dominant, inducing 21 swinging strikes and punching out nine batters. Most remarkably, he did not walk a single batter for the third straight start after issuing nine free passes over his first 10 innings of the campaign. The southpaw finished with a 17.9 percent walk rate last season but has cut that number nearly in half in 2021 thanks to his recent streak of excellent control. Not coincidentally, Ray's walkless stretch has resulted in his first three quality starts of the campaign, and he has struck out 23 batters over 18.2 innings over that span. He'll try to keep the the impressive stretch going in his next start, which is tentatively slated for Tuesday at Atlanta.

Ray (1-1) picked up the win in Friday's 13-5 victory over Atlanta, allowing two runs on five hits over 6.2 innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The lefty took a shutout into the seventh inning before an Ozzie Albies homer helped end Ray's night. It was still an outstanding performance from the 29-year-old, who tossed 68 of 95 pitches for strikes as he delivered his second straight quality start, and Ray will take a 2.78 ERA and 20:9 K:BB through 22.2 innings into his next outing, likely to come next week in Oakland.

Ray allowed three earned runs on six hits while striking out nine across six innings Saturday in the loss to the Rays. He did not factor in the decision.

Despite allowing two home runs, Ray posted a quality start to keep the game tied when he was relieved. Ray's command was much better Saturday compared to his first two starts. He had nine strikeouts and zero walks, compared to six strikeouts and nine walks in his first two appearances. The 29-year-old will look for his first win of the season Friday against Atlanta.

Ray tossed five scoreless innings Sunday against the Royals. He gave up four hits and six walks while fanning three in a no-decision.

Ray got into trouble early, as he had the bases loaded with one out in the first inning, but he came away unscathed from that jam. He also had the bases loaded in the second and two runners on in the third, but he didn't allow runs despite allowing 10 baserunners during his outing. Ray has pitched 10 innings in two starts this season but has had major control issues, posting a 6:9 K:BB in that stretch.

Ray (0-1) took the loss Monday as the Jays fell 3-1 to the Yankees, giving up two runs on three hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out three.

The veteran lefty wasn't able to match his spring dominance in his first regular-season start of the year, and instead Ray looked like his usual inefficient self, tossing only 50 of 84 pitches for strikes. Aside from a Kyle Higashioka homer however, Ray did hold the Yankees' offense mostly in check. He'll look for a better result in his next outing, set for Saturday in Kansas City.

The Blue Jays activated Ray (elbow) from the 10-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Monday against the Yankees.

Ray was able to complete a 63-pitch simulated game last week without issue, allowing him to clear the final hurdle in his recovery from a bruised left elbow. The Blue Jays likely won't ask the southpaw to work much beyond 80 pitches in his 2021 debut, so the expected workload limitation coupled with the tough matchup against the Yankees doesn't make Ray the most appealing streaming option. He'll line up for a second start of the week Saturday in Kansas City.

Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo confirmed that Ray (elbow) would start Monday's game against the Yankees, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

The Blue Jays will wait until Monday before officially activating Ray from the 10-day injured list, but the lefty received the green light to make his 2021 season debut after he checked out fine during a 63-pitch simulated game Wednesday. Ray will assume the rotation spot of Tanner Roark, who will shift to a long-relief role.

Ray (elbow) felt good after throwing 63 pitches during a simulated game Wednesday, Gregor Chisholm of the Toronto Star reports.

Pitching coach Pete Walker said over the weekend the left-hander is "really close" to returning from the injured list, so the simulated game may have been the final step before being activated. If that's the case, Ray likely won't be immediately ready for a full starter's workload given he hasn't cleared the 70-pitch mark in his rehab work.

Ray (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker said Sunday that Ray is "really close" to making his return. Manager Charlie Montoyo didn't have an exact pitch count for Wednesday's throwing session but said that Ray could throw around 70-80 pitches. If all goes well Wednesday, Ray could return to game action in the near future.

Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker said Sunday that Ray (elbow) is "really close" to returning from the 10-day injured list, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Ray appears to have come out of his bullpen session Friday without any setbacks to his bruised elbow, and at this point, Walker said the lefty just needs to build back up after a brief shutdown period. He'll likely throw again Monday or Tuesday, and if all goes well, Ray could be ready to rejoin the rotation at some point during next weekend's series with the Angels.

Ray (elbow) has been throwing at 100 percent and will throw off a mound Friday, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.

Ray suffered an elbow injury late in camp, though the issue was among the least concerning elbow problems for a pitcher, as it was nothing worse than a bruise and came while falling down some stairs rather than while pitching. The injury was bad enough to send him to the injured list to start the year, but it doesn't look as though he'll need to miss much time.

Ray (elbow) will begin the season on the 10-day injured list, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Ray was already expected to miss his first start of the season due to a bruised elbow. However, manager Charlie Montoyo announced Wednesday that the southpaw will be placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to March 29. T.J. Zeuch will likely start for the Blue Jays during Sunday's game against the Yankees, and it's not yet clear whether Ray will be cleared to make his season debut when he's first eligible to return from the injured list.

Ray (elbow) won't make his first start of the season, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Ray suffered a bruised elbow after falling down some stairs early in the week, and he'll miss at least one turn through the rotation while he recovers. The Blue Jays haven't determined who will start in his place, but it's unlikely that Ray's injury will force him to miss significant time.

Ray will miss a spring start after bruising his elbow while falling down some stairs but still hopes to be ready for the start of the regular season, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.

It's never good to see a pitcher suffer an elbow injury, though a bruise is among the least concerning possible issues. He's looked great this spring, posting a 1.98 ERA and an 18:5 K:BB in 13.2 innings, seemingly setting himself up for a bounceback season. The bruise could potentially cause him to miss a turn in the rotation to start the year but shouldn't change his overall outlook by very much.

Ray's fastball averaged 96.2 mph and topped out at 98 mph Friday against the Tigers as he struck out seven and gave up one run on four hits and a walk over 5.1 innings, picking up the win, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

That velocity is up slightly from the average of 95.8 mph he recorded in his previous outing and up significantly from the 93.7 mph he averaged during his disastrous 2020 campaign. Few pitchers have a wider range of outcomes this season than Ray, who's recorded an ERA as low as 2.89 and struck out more than 31 percent of opposing batters in three straight years before falling flat last season, struggling to a 6.62 ERA and a 17.9 percent walk rate. If his spring numbers are any indication, he's set for one of his good seasons, posting an 18:5 K:BB and a 1.98 ERA through 13.2 Grapefruit League innings.

Ray struck out three and walked two over four no-hit innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. "This [Baltimore] is a younger team. They're going to be super aggressive," Ray said afterwards. "I think I only threw five pitches in the first inning. After that, I knew they were going to continue to be aggressive, so I just tried to use that against them."

The veteran southpaw averaged 95.8 mph with his fastball and topped out at 97.3 mph, a very good sign for his 2021 fortunes after he averaged 93.9 mph last year. Ray got stretched out to 52 pitches in the outing, putting him on pace to reach his target of 90-plus pitches by the end of camp, but he was most pleased with where he was locating them Saturday. "Even the walks that I've had, the ball has been right around the zone," Ray said. "As far as command, I feel really good about where my pitches are at. I'm around the zone and my misfires aren't far off. I feel like I'm in a really good spot." The Jays' rotation is very shaky after Hyun Jin Ryu, so getting a bounceback performance from Ray after his rough 2020 will be crucial for the team's success.

Ray recorded six of his seven outs via strikeout and threw 31 of his 50 pitches for strikes during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The veteran left-hander also walked two batters during his first inning of work, but free passes are part of the package with Ray. He topped out at 98.4 mph with his fastball but found more control when sitting 94-96 mph in the second frame. Ray struggled through a rough 2020, but the Jays are counting on him to rebound after re-signing Ray to a one-year deal in the offseason.

Ray spent the winter working on his mechanics and trying to return to the three-quarter arm slot he used prior to last season, Gregor Chisholm of The Toronto Star reports.

Heading into last spring when he was still with the Diamondbacks, the southpaw adjusted his release point to come over the top with his delivery in an attempt to cut down on his walks. The result was the worst stretch of his career, and a trade to the Jays at a steep discount. Thanks to re-signing with Toronto early in the offseason, Ray had the organization's coaching staff available all winter for advice and guidance as he tried to get back to his old arm slot. "Technology has gotten way better and we have slow-mo cameras. They can break down your delivery in very, very small increments of, like, frames per second," Ray said this week. "So, it is a lot different now, and it's really cool to see that technology and be able to go pitch-to-pitch and see the difference: OK, this ball was here and this is what my delivery looked like, and this ball was here and it looked different." If he can re-discover the form he had from 2017-19, when he posted a 3.72 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 12.1 K/9 over 460 innings, Ray will go

Ray signed a one-year, $8 million contract to remain with the Blue Jays on Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The Blue Jays traded for half of a season of Ray at the deadline for quite a cheap return after he opened the season with a 7.84 ERA in seven starts for Arizona. He was better with his new team but was still not close to his previous form, finishing the year with a 6.62 ERA. His strikeout rate fell by over four points to a still-strong 27.1 percent, while his walk rate ballooned to an unsustainably high 17.9 percent and his groundball rate collapsed to a similarly poor 24.3 percent. It's hard to call last year's version of Ray a major-league caliber arm, but he's still just 29 years old, so the Blue Jays evidently believe he can get back to being the guy who posted a 3.72 ERA from 2017 through 2019. If he does indeed bounce back, they will have gotten quite a bargain, as will fantasy players who pick him up for presumably quite cheap in draft season.

Ray allowed three hits over four scoreless innings during the Blue Jays' 14-1 Wednesday night win over the Yankees. He walked four while striking out five.

Wednesday marked Ray's first outing without an earned run since being acquired by Toronto. Through five starts with the Blue Jays, the 28-year-old has logged a 6.62 ERA over 20.2 innings of work.

Ray (2-5) took the loss in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Phillies, coughing up five runs on five hits and four walks over 4.1 innings as the Blue Jays fell 7-0. He struck out six.

The southpaw threw only 56 of 92 pitches for strikes as his control was once again an issue. Ray has walked 10 batters through 16.2 innings with Toronto, which is still a big improvement over the 31 free passes he issued in 31 innings before getting dropped by Arizona. He'll take a 7.17 ERA and 1.91 WHIP on the year into his final outing Wednesday against the Yankees in Buffalo.

Ray (1-0) allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out five across five innings Saturday as he earned his first win as a member of the Blue Jays.

Ray did a good job of navigating through the Mets' hitters as his only troublesome inning was in the fourth. He let up a leadoff single to Michael Conforto who was able to stretch it to second after a fielding error by Cavan Biggio and later came around to score after Jake Marisnick roped a double down the left-field line to put the Mets up 1-0. Fortunately for Ray, the Blue Jays would come back to score twice to give him a 2-1 lead before he was pulled after five. The 28-year-old owns a 4.38 ERA in 12.1 innings since joining the Blue Jays but has struggled mightily with his command all season long as his 57:37 K:BB is on track to be the worst ratio of seven-year career.

Ray allowed four earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five across four innings Sunday against the Red Sox. He did not factor into the decision.

Ray surrendered two home runs -- including a three-run shot -- to sour his second outing with the Blue Jays. He did pitch fairly well otherwise, allowing only a solo home run across his final three frames. Still, long balls and control issues continue to be the demise of Ray on the mound, something that hasn't changed since he was dealt from Arizona. Overall, he has a 7.51 ERA with a 52:35 K:BB across 38.1 innings this season. His next outing is projected to come Saturday against the Mets.

Ray will start Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Ray followed Julian Merryweather and worked as a primary pitcher in his Blue Jays debut, but he will work as a traditional starter Sunday, taking the mound in the first inning and throwing as many innings as he can. Command will be key for Ray, who walked just one batter his last time out but issued 31 bases on balls over 31 innings with the Diamondbacks before being traded.

Ray gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk over 3.1 innings during Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Marlins.

The command issues that plagued the southpaw throughout the season in Arizona were nowhere to be found Tuesday, as he threw 36 of his 48 pitches for strikes and didn't walk multiple batters for the first time in 2020. Ray followed opener Julian Merryweather a day after being acquired by the Blue Jays, and the team could opt to continue with that setup based on the initial success. Ray lines up to pitch again Sunday against the Red Sox.

The Diamondbacks dealt Ray to the Blue Jays on Monday in exchange for reliever Travis Bergen, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.

The Blue Jays currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the American League but felt the need to bolster their ailing rotation in order to remain in the race. In his current form, Ray isn't exactly a playoff-caliber arm, as he owns a 7.84 ERA and a 7.23 FIP through seven starts. His strikeout rate has slipped slightly to 27.9 percent, but it's his walk rate, which has ballooned to 20.1 percent, that's been the primary issue, along with his groundball rate, which has fallen dramatically to 19.2 percent. The southpaw posted a 3.72 ERA over the three previous seasons, however, and if Ray can get anywhere close to recapturing that form, he'll certainly be a useful addition for Toronto.

Ray (1-4) walked six batters over four innings and took the loss Wednesday against the Rockies. He allowed two runs and two hits while striking out eight.

It was another uneven performance for Ray, who needed 99 pitches to get 12 outs. He has yet to pitch six innings in any of his six starts and walked six for the third time. He scrapped mechanical changes implemented during the offseason, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, and throttled back on his fastball, all in an effort to find more consistent command. His next start is scheduled for Monday on the road against the Dodgers, if the Diamondbacks don't move the left-hander before the trade deadline.

Ray (1-3) took the loss to San Francisco on Friday. He allowed four runs on seven hits and five walks while striking out eight over five innings.

Ray was hurt by excessive walks once again and now leads the majors with 25 free passes allowed. The right-hander danced around trouble immediately, loading the bases in each of the first two innings but avoided damage. He also uncorked a wild pitch Friday, his fifth of the season which ties him for league high. Ray lugs an 8.33 ERA into his next start Wednesday at home against Colorado.

Ray allowed one run on six walks across five innings Sunday, striking out four in the win over San Diego. He did not factor in the decision.

Ray was lifted from the game after throwing just 45-of-95 pitches for strikes despite holding the Padres without a hit. Through 22 innings this season, the 28-year-old lefty owns a brutal 27:20 K:BB. He'll carry an 8.59 ERA into Friday's start in San Francisco.

Ray (1-2) allowed six runs on six hits and two walks and struck out six over five innings in a win over the Astros on Wednesday.

Ray gave up his fair share of runs in the slugfest -- five of the six runs he allowed came on homers. He fared better than Astros starter Lance McCullers, and Ray had enough run support to get his first win of the year. The 28-year-old has a 9.45 ERA and 1.95 WHIP through 13.1 innings this season. The struggling southpaw will look to get on track Monday in Colorado.

Ray (0-2) was charged with the loss against the Dodgers on Thursday, surrendering five runs on five hits and six walks with four strikeouts across 4.2 innings.

Ray struggled with his command from the start, issuing a leadoff walk to Mookie Betts, who soon scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Turner. The 28-year-old then gave up a two-run homer to AJ Pollock. The second inning brought more trouble in the form of a leadoff home run by Corey Seager, who eventually became Ray's final batter in the fifth after knocking in an RBI groundout. The six walks were a career-high for Ray. He'll look to straighten things out on Wednesday against Houston.

Ray (0-1) allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out seven over 3.2 innings in a loss to the Padres on Saturday.

There was some buzz surrounding Ray given his slimmed-down physique and revamped delivery. Unfortunately, the new delivery and shorter arm action that he showcased in summer camp did not lead to good results in his 2020 debut. In fact, it was more of what we've come to expect from Ray; walks and inefficiency. He needed 97 pitches to record 11 outs. The lefty lines up to face the Dodgers at home next week.

Ray allowed one run on one hit and didn't walk a batter while striking out nine over six innings in Wednesday night's intrasquad game, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Other than allowing a solo home run by Trayce Thompson, Ray was dominant once again. He's been dialed in during summer camp, allowing just one run with three walks and 17 strikeouts over 11 innings. After the game, the left-hander discussed the changes he's made, including a slimmed down physique, a revamped delivery and shorter arm action. "It's definitely something that I worked on to try to be more - to have something that's more repeatable," Ray said of his shorter arm stroke. "That was something that allowed me to get in the same spot in my delivery time after time and be consistent." Ray is expected to serve as the Diamondbacks' No. 2 starter in 2020, with his season debut expected July 25 against San Diego.

Ray tossed five no-hit innings in Friday's intrasquad game, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Ray got up to 76 pitches with his fastball regularly hitting the mid-90s. "The stuff was overpowering at times and the secondary stuff was together," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "I couldn't be more happy with what he did." The manager's comments echo what catcher Steven Vogt said earlier in the week when asked by Steve Gilbert of MLB.com about the most impressive pitchers in camp. Vogt didn't hesitate in raving about Ray.

Ray threw approximately 80 pitches to live hitters Sunday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

The session was a combination of a live batting practice and simulated game for Ray, the left-hander who is entering the final year of his contract. He told manager Torey Lovullo last week that he feels ready to pitch in a game immediately, and the 29-year-old hurler proved it during Sunday's session. "He said that he was ready to start a baseball season, and he backed that up," Lovullo said. "His stuff was extremely aggressive. He was throwing balls to both sides of the plate, great depth on certain breaking balls. It wasn't perfect, nor do we expect it to be, but for [his first outing], it was outstanding." Ray said he threw with "max effort" and that his arm and body felt good.

Ray allowed three hits and struck out six over 2.1 scoreless innings in "B" game against a Japanese college team Saturday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Instead of having him throw against the division rival Dodgers, the Diamondbacks moved Ray to the back fields to continue his spring progression. The left-hander has spun four scoreless spring innings after adjusting his mechanics during the offseason. He's currently pegged as Arizona's No. 2 starter behind ace Madison Bumgarner, although the Diamondbacks may want to break up the two consecutive lefties in the rotation.

Ray started Sunday and walked two while striking out three over 1.2 scoreless innings in a spring win over the Athletics.

Ray, who showed off a slimmer physique upon his arrival to camp, also showed off new mechanics, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. The left-hander is trying to finish his delivery more toward the plate rather than falling off to the third-base side. "I'm not losing stuff arm side because my direction is more towards the plate. I'm not pulling so much with my front side, which is allowing me to stay in the zone and not pull and leave stuff arm side," said Ray, who had a 4.3 BB/9 in 2019 and 5.1 the previous season. The 28-year-old Ray is slotted in at second in the rotation behind Madison Bumgarner.

Ray agreed to a one-year, $9.43 million deal with the Diamondbacks, avoiding arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

This is his final year as an arbitration-eligible player before hitting the open market. The 28-year-old lefty has been worth 12.2 fWAR over 790.2 innings across six MLB seasons.

Ray left his start Friday against the Reds with an undisclosed injury which appeared to be on his left hand, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Trainers came to check on Ray before he left with one out in the fifth inning. They appeared to be checking on his left hand, presumably for a blister or nail issue. The details of the injury should be available following the game if not sooner. He left too early to record a win but recorded a decent overall slash line, allowing two runs on three hits in 4.1 innings while striking out eight and walking three.

Ray (back) was activated off the 10-day injured list to start Sunday at Milwaukee.

Ray will rejoin the Diamondbacks after spending the 10-day minimum on the shelf due to back spasms. The 27-year-old has a 4.10 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 50:9 K:BB over 37.1 innings since the All-Star break.

Ray (back) will start Sunday against the Brewers, Zach Buchanan of The Athleticreports.

Ray is set to return when first eligible from the injured list after battling back spasms. He's thrown at least two bullpen sessions since being sidelined, but will not require a rehab outing. For the season, Ray owns a 3.99 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 187 strikeouts across 142 innings.

Ray (back) expects to come off the injured list and start Sunday against the Brewers, Russell Dorsey of MLB.com reports.

Ray threw a bullpen session Friday without issue, and that was apparently all he and the Diamondbacks needed to see before deeming him ready to return to action. Barring any setbacks, Ray will occupy a spot in Arizona's rotation the rest of the way as they try to earn a Wild Card berth.

Ray (back) will throw a bullpen session Friday, Richard Morin of the Arizona Republic reports.

Manager Torey Lovullo said Ray could rejoin the starting rotation soon if Friday's session goes without issue. The left-hander was removed from his last start Aug. 14 with what turned out to be back spasms.

Ray (back) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Jody Jackson of FOX Sports Arizona reports.

Ray was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to back spasms, though he felt good during Tuesday's bullpen session and appears to be in line for a quick return. His next step figures to be either a simulated game or another side session.