Giants’ left-hander Robbie Ray left Sunday’s game against the Mariners in the fourth inning due to left hamstring tightness. Facing his former team for the first time since a devastating, season-ending injury in 2023, Ray now finds himself once again in an all-too-familiar place—uncertain about his future.
Ray, the 2021 AL Cy Young winner, is hoping this latest injury doesn’t spell the end of his season. The 32-year-old southpaw will undergo an MRI on Monday, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Ray expressed cautious optimism, describing the injury as “minor,” while noting that he left the game before it became “anything significant.”
“I’ve pushed through injuries in the past and didn’t want to make the same mistake,” Ray explained, per The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly. Still, Ray couldn’t offer much insight into his recovery timeline, as he’s never dealt with a hamstring injury before.
While Ray is hopeful that his absence will be brief, Giants manager Bob Melvin hinted that even a mild hamstring issue could sideline the veteran for some time. “Those things don’t typically take a couple of days [to heal],” Melvin said, indicating that Ray may miss at least one start.
Since returning from the injured list in late July, Ray has made seven starts for San Francisco, posting a 4.70 ERA across 30 2/3 innings. Though his performance has been inconsistent, Ray’s presence in the rotation has helped keep the Giants competitive—they are 4-3 in his starts. His absence, however, will be felt at a critical time in the season as the Giants sit five games back in the NL Wild Card race.
If Ray’s injury is short-term, Melvin might opt to use bulk relievers Sean Hjelle and Spencer Bivens to cover his next start. Hjelle pitched 2 2/3 innings after Ray exited on Sunday, a role he’s filled in several games this year. Meanwhile, if Ray requires a stint on the injured list, rookie right-hander Mason Black could be called up as a potential fill-in. Despite struggling in his earlier MLB outings, Black remains a candidate due to his availability on the 40-man roster.
Another option, right-hander Tristan Beck, is still in the process of rehabbing from a season-long injury after undergoing surgery to remove an aneurysm from his arm. Beck’s return is uncertain, and his rehab numbers at Triple-A haven’t been encouraging.
The Giants’ postseason hopes are hanging by a thread, and a prolonged absence for Ray could be disastrous. For now, the team—and its fans—will wait anxiously for the results of Monday’s MRI, hoping Ray’s season isn’t once again cut short.
