Robbie Ray is set to make his highly anticipated debut with the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking his first major-league start since March 2023 due to recovery from elbow surgery. Acquired from the Seattle Mariners, Ray has been on a 16-month journey back to full health, recently completing successful rehab outings where he struck out 16 batters over 10⅓ innings. Giants manager Bob Melvin expressed confidence in Ray's readiness, highlighting his intensity and competitive drive, which are crucial for the team's pitching needs as they aim for a potential playoff push. Despite the Giants' current 48-53 record and being 12 games behind the Dodgers, they are only four games back of an NL Wild Card spot. Ray, a former Cy Young winner, brings a wealth of experience and a high strikeout rate, which could energize the team as they approach the trade deadline. His return is seen as a critical addition to a pitching rotation that has faced challenges this season.