Giants left-hander Robbie Ray exited his Sunday start in the fourth inning due to left hamstring tightness while facing his former team, the Mariners, in Seattle. This marked his first appearance at T-Mobile Park since suffering a season-ending injury during his debut start of the 2023 season. The 2021 AL Cy Young winner is hopeful that this latest setback won’t end his season.
Ray is scheduled for an MRI on Monday, as reported by Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Since Ray has no prior history with hamstring injuries, he couldn’t provide a clear timeline for his recovery but remained optimistic that it wouldn’t sideline him for long. He described the injury as “minor” and emphasized that he left the game as a precaution before it became “anything significant,” according to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic. Ray, who has pushed through injuries in the past, is determined not to repeat that mistake.
While Ray is uncertain if he’ll need to go on the injured list, Giants manager Bob Melvin hinted that even a mild issue could cause him to miss time. “Those things don’t typically take a couple of days [to heal],” Melvin noted.
Since returning from the injured list in late July, Ray has made seven starts for the Giants, pitching 30 2/3 innings with a 4.70 ERA and 3.52 SIERA. The Giants are 4-3 in his starts, and while Ray hasn’t been at his best, his absence would still be a significant loss for the team.
If Ray only misses one start, Melvin may rely on bulk relievers like Sean Hjelle and Spencer Bivens. Hjelle stepped in after Ray’s exit on Sunday, pitching 2 2/3 innings. He has pitched at least two innings in 16 of his 45 appearances this season, with his longest outing being 3 1/3 innings against the Braves earlier this month. Bivens, who made one start this year, has also pitched two or more innings in six of his 15 relief appearances.
If Ray ends up on the IL, the Giants could consider recalling rookie right-hander Mason Black, who made four appearances (three starts) for the team in May. However, Black struggled in those starts, giving up 14 runs in 14 1/3 innings. He has also posted a 4.59 ERA and 5.21 FIP in 20 starts at Triple-A this season. Another option is right-hander Tristan Beck, but his return to the Giants is uncertain as he’s been on the 60-day IL all season after surgery to remove an aneurysm from his arm. Beck has also struggled during his rehab, giving up 13 runs (11 earned) over 10 2/3 innings at Triple-A.
With the Giants sitting five games back in the NL Wild Card race, losing Ray for an extended period could severely damage their postseason hopes. His quick return to the mound is crucial as the team fights to stay in contention.
