Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Robbie Ray's breakout 2021 campaign was fueled by his strikeout prowess. He led the majors with 248 strikeouts. His 32.1% strikeout rate ranked in the top 7% of the league and he averaged a sturdy 11.5 K/9. Through four starts so far this year, Ray has been unable replicate last year's bat-missing success. He has just 18 strikeouts over 25.1 innings, which amounts to 6.4 K/9. His 17.6% strikeout rate ranks in the 27th percentile. Ray's decreased velocity this year has been highly publicized and that's certainly one of the contributing factors to his lack of whiffs. The average velocity on his four-seamer is down from 94.8 mph last year to 92.2 mph this year. Ray has posted quality starts in three of his four outings, so it's not like we're witnessing a complete breakdown from the 30-year-old. However, fantasy managers have good reason to be concerned about the 2021 AL Cy Young winner at this point.

Seattle Mariners left-hander Robbie Ray gave up six runs and 10 hits while walking four and striking out four in 6 1/3 innings in a loss on Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox. Ray was solid in his season debut on April 8 against the Minnesota Twins, giving up just one earned run while walking four and striking out five in seven innings in his first win of the season. The southpaw allowed three home runs on Wednesday night to a strong White Sox lineup. Ray has struck out nine hitters in his first 13 1/3 innings of work with Seattle, and he's tentatively scheduled to toe the rubber next Tuesday at home against the Texas Rangers.

Seattle Mariners pitcher Robbie Ray was named the Opening Day starter by the team on March 31. It should come as no surprise that Ray, the recipient of a five-year, $115 million contract this offseason, will toe the rubber against the Minnesota Twins on Opening Day. Through two Cactus League starts, Ray has compiled a 4.32 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB over 8 1/3 innings. While he may not be able to emulate his impressive 2021 Cy Young season in which he posted a 13-7 record, 2.84 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 248 punchouts over 193 1/3 innings, he will still be an excellent source of strikeouts at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park. The 30-year-old lefty has a final tune-up start against the Brewers on Saturday before the regular season kicks off on Thursday, April 7.

Reigning American League Cy Young winner Robbie Ray and the Seattle Mariners are finalizing a five-year, $115 million deal on Monday that includes an opt-out after the third season, according to sources familiar with the deal. Seattle will have to give up a draft pick after the lefty declined Toronto's qualifying offer. Ray will give the M's a legitimate ace atop their starting rotation after coming off a career season in 2021 in which he led the AL in ERA (2.84) and innings (193 1/3) and became the first Jays pitcher to lead the league in strikeouts with 248. He had a league-leading 10 starts with double-digit strikeouts. Ray's career-best 6.9% walk rate was a sharp dropoff from his career 11% walk rate through 2020. The 30-year-old southpaw throws hard and has always generated a bunch of strikeouts, but fantasy managers will be banking on him maintaining the mechanics that led to better control and fewer free passes in 2021.

The Boston Red Sox are interested in adding free-agent Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray, according to MLB.com. They are looking to add at least one premium starting pitcher after losing left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez on the open market. Ray, coming off his best season by far, went 13-7 with a 2.84 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 32.1 strikeout percentage in 193 1/3 innings with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was able to eliminate the free passes, something that he's struggled with his whole career, walking just 6.7% of the batters he faced. However, he might be in line for some regression after allowing 1.54 HR/9 while posting a 3.69 FIP. That's still good production, but fantasy managers should be careful drafting him too early.

The Toronto Blue Jays have already locked up right-hander Jose Berrios to a seven-year extension, and they are now setting their sights on bringing back two other members of their 2021 rotation, left-handers Robbie Ray and Steven Matz. Each had a breakout season in Toronto, with Ray winning the Cy Young Award and Matz posting a 3.82 ERA, his best since 2016. Each has been reported to have a robust market, but with little future payroll tied up, Toronto is in prime position to make a push to retain them. For fantasy purposes, the continuity of a return to the Jays would provide the most confidence in a repeat of their excellent years. Matz's market is moving more quickly, and it's possible he could sign before the end of November.

Toronto Blue Jays starter Robbie Ray won the American League Cy Young Award on Wednesday. The 30-year-old received all but one first-place vote in taking home the award. Ray had a career year in 2021, leading all qualified American League starting pitchers with 193.1 innings pitched, 248 strikeouts, and a 2.84 ERA. The left-hander, who is currently a free agent, got much better at limiting walks this past season, which certainly helped. He walked just 52 batters last season. For reference, Ray surrendered 45 walks in 51.2 innings during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

The Toronto Blue Jays are extending a one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer to left-hander Robbie Ray on Saturday. Ray, who is coming off a career season and has a chance to win his first Cy Young award, is surely to decline the offer and cash in on the open market. The 30-year-old southpaw went 13-7 with an American League-leading 2.84 ERA, 248 strikeouts and a 6.7 wins above replacement in a league-high 193 1/3 innings in Toronto in 2021. Ray had signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Jays after posting a 6.62 ERA in the shortened 2020 season. He had a major league-leading 10 games with double-digit strikeouts, which allowed him to become the first Toronto pitcher to lead the majors in strikeouts. A 6.7% walk rate helped him break out in 2021, but with a career walk rate of 11% entering this season, can Ray replicate his performance next year?

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Robbie Ray suffered his first loss in nearly two months on Monday as his club fell to the Rays 6-4. The left-hander cruised for the first four frames before he gave up a couple of infield singles and then a three-run homer to Yandy Diaz in the bottom of the fifth. He would then surrender a two-out double to Randy Arozarena before getting the hook with seven hits allowed and a 5/2 K/BB through 97 pitches. With the loss, Ray's record dropped to 12-6 with a superb 2.72 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and a 238/45 K/BB through 182 IP as he looks ahead to his next matchup versus the Twins this weekend.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Robbie Ray was superb yet again on Wednesday, striking out 13 Rays in the team's 6-3 win. The lefty didn't walk a batter and gave up just one run on four hits with the only damage coming off a Mike Zunino home run in the fifth inning as he recorded his 12th win of the campaign. Ray continues to make a case for the AL Cy Young with a league-leading 2.64 ERA and 233 K in 177 1/3 IP for the Blue Jays this season. Continue to fire up the 29-year-old in all starting lineups the rest of the way, including in his next start in a rematch versus the Rays next week.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Robbie Ray stymied the Athletics offense on Sunday, tossing 6 1/3 shutout innings as his club rolled to an 8-0 victory. The lefty struck out 10 batters while surrendering just one hit and three walks in his impressive 107-pitch performance, improving his record to 11-5 on the year. The double-digit strikeout game marks his fourth-straight game hitting that total and he's now allowed two runs or fewer in eight-straight contests. Ray is certainly making a case for the AL Cy Young trophy with a 2.60 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 212 K in 166 IP. He'll look to keep his hot streak going in a matchup versus Baltimore on the road next weekend.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Robbie Ray earned his 10th win of the season on Monday as his club defeated the Orioles 7-3. The left-hander was excellent once again in this one, tossing seven innings and striking out 10 while allowing just two earned runs. The O's recorded just four hits and one walk off Ray in his 97-pitch effort, lowering his ERA and WHIP to respective 2.71 and 1.01 marks on the season. His double-digit punchout game now gives him 202 on the season to surpass Gerrit Cole for the AL lead as he continues to make a viable bid at the Cy Young award. Ray will look to keep his momentum going into September in his next scheduled start versus the Athletics this weekend at home.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Robbie Ray was outstanding on Wednesday, striking out a season-high 14 batters in the team's 3-1 win over the White Sox. The left-hander allowed five hits, all of which were singles, while walking one batter in his 111-pitch performance, but he was unfortunately left with a no-decision for the fifth-straight game. Ray is winless so far in August, but to no fault of his own since he's thrown a quality start in all five of his outings while holding a 1.59 ERA in that span. He's still quickly gaining momentum in the AL Cy Young race with a 2.72 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 192 K in 152 1/3 IP as he looks to get his elusive 10th win versus Baltimore next week.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Robbie Ray was superb on Friday, tossing eight innings of one-run ball although he had to settle for a no-decision in the team's extra-inning loss against the Tigers. The only run the left-hander allowed was on a two-out wild pitch in the eighth inning as he finished the game giving up just five hits and no walks in the 109-pitch effort. Ray also struck out 11 batters to place him third in the majors with 178 K in 145 1/3 IP to go along with top-10 marks in ERA (2.79) and WHIP (1.03). The 29-year-old just lacks fantasy production in the win column as he looks to perhaps finally notch his 10th victory of the campaign versus the White Sox next week.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Robbie Ray had another quality outing on Friday, tossing seven innings of two-run ball in his club's 3-2 loss to the Mariners. The left-hander settled for a no-decision in this one despite striking out eight batters and allowing five hits and a walk in his 90-pitch outing. His only big mistake of the night was serving up a two-run homer to Tom Murphy in the third inning as he settled down shortly after that by retiring his last 11 batters faced. Not only has Ray been one of the best bounce back players in 2021, but he's also been one of the best pitchers in the AL with a 2.88 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 167 K in 137 1/3 IP. He'll look to get his 10th win of the year in his next matchup versus the Tigers back home in Toronto.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Robbie Ray was excellent in Saturday's first game of a doubleheader, tossing six-shutout frames in the club's 1-0 win. Unfortunately the lefty was stuck with a no-decision as he struck out five while allowing two walks and a pair of hits. Ray didn't allow a hit until one out in the fifth in his 86-pitch outing as he's now thrown a quality start in eight of his last nine outings. He'll take a superb 2.90 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 159 K in 130 1/3 IP into his next scheduled start versus the Mariners.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Robbie Ray had a solid outing versus the Indians on Monday, tossing six innings and allowing two runs in the no-decision. The lefty gave up six hits and walked three while striking out four, with three of his punchouts coming in the final five outs of his outing. This start marked the first time he's allowed three or more walks in back-to-back games since his first two starts of the season in April. Owners shouldn't worry about him falling back into his former self since he still threw a strike over 60% of the time in both games. Ray will take an impressive 3.04 ERA and 1.09 WHIP into his next start versus the Red Sox this weekend.

The Philadelphia Phillies acquired pitchers Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy, bolstering their staff in a deadline trade Friday in which they got the Texas Rangers' top starter and closer in exchange for rookie right-hander Spencer Howard and two other pitching prospects. Texas also sent pitching prospect Hans Crouse, a second-round draft pick four years ago, and cash to the Phillies. Howard (0-2, 5.72 ERA), who was Philadelphia’s second-round pick in 2017, is going to Texas with right-handers Kevin Gowdy and Josh Gessner. Gibson (6-3, 2.87 ERA in 19 starts) was a first-time All-Star this season, but the 33-year-old right-hander lost his last three starts for Texas. Kennedy had 16 saves in 17 opportunities for the last-place Rangers, and the 36-year-old right-hander hasn’t issued a walk in his last 11 appearances, a span of 45 batters dating to June 4. “We feel like we made ourselves better and we’re in position where we have another starting pitcher in our rotation for next year. We’ve also... [More]

The Philadelphia Phillies acquired pitchers Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy, bolstering their staff in a deadline trade Friday in which they got the Texas Rangers' top starter and closer in exchange for rookie right-hander Spencer Howard and two other pitching prospects. Texas also sent pitching prospect Hans Crouse, a second-round draft pick four years ago, and cash to the Phillies. Howard (0-2, 5.72 ERA), who was Philadelphia’s second-round pick in 2017, is going to Texas with right-handers Kevin Gowdy and Josh Gessne. Gibson (6-3, 2.87 ERA) was a first-time All-Star this season, but the 33-year-old right-hander lost his last three starts for Texas. Kennedy had 16 saves in 17 opportunities for the last-place Rangers, and the 36-year-old right-hander hasn’t issued a walk in his last 11 appearances, a span of 45 batters dating to June 4. Philadelphia went into Friday night's game at Pittsburgh with a 51-51 record. The Phillies were second in the NL East, 3 1/2 games behind the New York Mets.... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Judge went from being a late scratch to hitting a tiebreaking single in a two-run 10th inning to help the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the second straight day, 3-1 on Wednesday night. Judge was taken out of the lineup about 30 minutes before the scheduled first pitch. Although no announcement was made about why, the All-Star right fielder struck out in the fifth pinch-hitting for Estevan Florial. Judge returned to the team Tuesday after going on the COVID-19 injured list July 16. New York also had a big night off the field. The Yankees reached a deal to get All-Star slugger Joey Gallo from the Texas Rangers, a person familiar with the trade told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move had not yet been announced and was subject to approval of medical records of the players involved. Greg Allen was hit by a pitch from Pete Fairbanks (3-4) leading off the 10th, putting runners on first and second. Judge... [More]