Robbie Ray to Make Giants Debut Against Dodgers

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.