Robbie Ray Looks Like Toronto’s New Ace
Robbie Ray #RobbieRay
The left-hander struck out 11 Rays hitters through seven shutout innings in Sunday’s 3-1 win.
With one out in the seventh inning, Rays third baseman Yandy Díaz turned on an inside fastball and drove a liner to left field. A fan stretched out his hands and fumbled the baseball, before it plopped back onto the field.
After a quick review, the play was ruled a double and Diaz took second base, but the whole fiasco dulled the fact that Blue Jays starter Robbie Ray had gone 6 1/3 innings of no-hit baseball.
Dominance. It’s really the only word to describe Ray’s outing.
Ray looked as strong as he has all season, pumping 76% fastballs down the Rays’ throat in Sunday’s 3-1 Blue Jays win. His bread-and-butter fastball-slider combo left the Rays with no chance and the left-hander finished seven innings, allowing just the one hit, walking one and striking out 11. At one point, Ray sat down 17 consecutive hitters.
The 29-year-old won’t be playing in Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Coors Field, but a case can be made that he should be. His career-low walk rate has been widely discussed and, after Sunday’s outing, Ray ties Cleveland’s Shane Bieber and Chicago’s Carlos Rodon for second in the American League with 130 strikeouts — only Yankees starter Gerrit Cole has more (147). There’s still half a season to go, but Ray looks to have surpassed Hyun Jin Ryu as the ace of this staff. It seems safe to say if the Blue Jays were playing in a winner-take-all playoff game a week from now, Ray would take the hill.
Ray was on fire and pitched with a lead the entire game thanks to some early run support. Danny Jansen got things started with a solo home run in the third, then Santiago Espinal and Cavan Biggio each drove in a run to put Toronto ahead 3-0.
Big picture, a series loss to Tampa Bay sours the mood for Toronto fans, but watching Ray deal and four Blue Jays play in the All-Star Game Tuesday is sure to raise spirits. The Midsummer Classic showcases how talented the Blue Jays roster really is, but so does Sunday’s Futures Game — where No. 2 prospect Austin Martin represents Toronto.