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 estimated 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 likely take his place in the rotation.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Sidelined with flexor strain
Rotowire
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.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Can't find plate Friday
Rotowire
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. 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 next week at home against the Angels.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Ends Cactus League strong
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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.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Impressive through three starts
Rotowire
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, yet he still generated an impressive 3.71 ERA and respectable 1.19 WHIP across 32 starts. Although the veteran southpaw's strikeout rate did drop from 2021's 32.1 percent in Toronto to 27.4 percent, early returns this spring underscore Ray's ability to miss bats at an above-average clip.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Starting Cactus League opener
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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 a very successful 2022 campaign in 2023. The team is coming off its first playoff appearance in 21 years and will look to make the next step with additions like Teoscar Hernandez and AJ Pollock this offseason. The left-handed Ray produced a 3.71 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 212 strikeouts over 189 innings in 32 starts with Seattle last season.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Yields three homers in loss
Rotowire
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.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Spins six scoreless innings
Rotowire
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.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Struggles again Friday
Rotowire
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.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Twirls six scoreless frames
Rotowire
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.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Stellar again Sunday
Rotowire
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.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Cruises to 10th win
Rotowire
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 weak 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.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Strikes out 10 in win
Rotowire
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 scored three in the sixth 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.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Struggles with control
Rotowire
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 the 16 innings covering his last three starts, although 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.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Strikes out 10 in no-decision
Rotowire
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 149 strikeouts in 129.2 innings across 22 outings. He lines up to toe the rubber again midweek against the Yankees.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Chased in third inning
Rotowire
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 that 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 percent from 90.1 percent last season. Ray is tentatively scheduled to start against the depleted Angels lineup next week.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Hit hard early
Rotowire
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 a solo home run to each of 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.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Fans 12 in win
Rotowire
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 Taveras 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.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Turns in another quality start
Rotowire
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.
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Mariners' Robbie Ray: Strikes out 12 in win
Rotowire
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.
