Ray Shines In Possible Last Giant Start

Jul 31, 2026 | 2026 Season, Latest Post

by
Greek Giant

With the trade deadline approaching later today Robbie Ray pitched six strong innings to help the Giants defeat the San Diego Padres at Tony Gwynn Field last night by a score of 4-1. He allowed only four hits and struck out six Padres in flashing his arsenal of pitches. He allowed only one walk, a key stat for Robbie, while throwing 86 pitches. It is likely Ray could have pitched the seventh but my guess is Manager Tony Vitello wanted to play it safe and let the new Lights-Out Giants bullpen take over. And take over they did, going three shutout innings with Killian, Smith and Miller pitching the seventh, eighth and ninth innings respectively. It seems the Giants bullpen is maturing before our eyes with pitchers like Smith and Miller finding a groove with their roles more or less established than they were earlier in the 2026 campaign. With this win and yesterday’s clobbering of the Giants we fans should tout the bullpen’s six shutout innings as a very positive sign.

“With the Trade Deadline coming up, I just tried to put everything out of my head as far as leading up to this start,” Ray said. “But it obviously comes up now that this could be my last start in a Giants uniform.”

Ray allowed only four hits — including a two-out RBI single to Xander Bogaerts in the second — while walking one and striking out six, improving to 7-0 with a 1.65 ERA over his last 10 appearances (nine starts).

The 13-year veteran finished the night strong, hitting 95.2 mph with his four-seam fastball while striking out Manny Machado and Ty France to leave a runner stranded at second base in the bottom of the sixth inning.

One more positive sign came in last night in the form of another home run by Andrew Susac, one day after hitting the first two long balls of his promising career. That homer came in the top of the second inning with Willy Adames on board to give the Giants a 3-0 led after Raffy Devers hit a sac fly to score a run in the top of the first inning.

It should be noted that the were 0-9 with runners in scoring position last night and left many runs on the bases. But that’s life in baseball. The key to the game was another excellent starting pitching performance and a bullpen that held the line.

My post title insinuates that Ray made have made his last start as a Giant since he is rumored to be on the trading block, along with fellow lefty Tarik Skubal. It is unsure what kind of prospect Haul Posey will get in return in today’s strange trade market. If I am Buster I require at least one top prospect and I don’t get it I extend Ray. The way Major League GMs over-value their prospects mean a player like Ray may be more valuable to the Giants than two or three mid-level prospects who are not likely to amount to much. It’s an important moment in Buster’s tenure.

The Highlights

 

Tonight’s Game

Game two of the series in San Diego takes place tonight at 6:45 PM with Carson Whisenhut (2-1, 4.60 ERA) facing a starter TBD.