When we talk about the endurance of a starting pitcher in a 162-game season, here in the corner, we consider how they start, middle, and end in relation to performance and wear-and-tear.
On our staff the workhorse is Logan Webb, third in all the majors in innings pitched from 2020 to 2025 (A. Nola, Z. Wheeler).
The knock on Robbie Ray last year was that, having missed the start of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in 2023, he middled the 2024 season very well, but then suddenly, had no end to the season because he injured his hamstring in a game in late August.
This is a pitcher who won the AL Cy Young in 2021. Expectations remain high. The recovery of Robbie Ray from TJ surgery and the hamstring injury are complete.
He is expected to be solid as a starter in April, July and September, and, if not to achieve 200 innings like Webby, to give us at least 150, preferably 180.
I caught his last start at Cactus League in March:
(btw, Robbie Ray has a habit of grunting when he hurls the ball that sounds like he is fatigued, or an exhausted pitcher. This is not the case).
Tonight, in his second start of 2025, Ray scattered four hits across six innings, allowing only one earned run – a solo shot in the 5th to the Mariners 3B Dylan Moore – on a plum, 92 mph fastball right over the plate. It was only one real “mistake pitch,” but he followed it by walking two straight. (one was caught stealing, the other stranded).
Ray walked five, which is a problem, but it’s early in Spring and reducing walks comes into focus for starters as the season progresses. A concern might be that he gave up two walks in the 6th in both his starts.
Still, this was a second good start, and a quality start completed (he left with two-out in the 6th in his previous start) for Robbie Ray:
88 pitches, 54 for strikes, two K’s, through six. It is reasonable to consider he might be the number two starter by mid-May.
Not because Verlander isn’t good, but because Ray should be better than a 42-year-old in his “final contract” seasons.
Hayden Birdsong had an excellent two-inning hold in this one to set up closer Ryan Walker, who collected his third save (3-0).
Giants bats stayed timely and small ball is in full effect, with attempted steals and aggressive baserunning from the get. I love that BoMel is making them run early. They will be doing it all year.
That’s how Lovullo and the D’Backs did it two years ago. If I am honest, I’d like to see more bunts soon, too. Let’s get the speed and rhythm of the base running down, and start dropping bunts to move ’em along.
Jung Hoo Lee was three for four tonight, with two doubles and a single. Batting clean-up behind him, Matt Chapman knocked Lee in on both doubles. It was choice.
Heliot Ramos had another hit. That’s eight games with a hit to start the season, after tying Felipe Alou by hitting six straight with an extra-base hit.
Fuerza!
The defense featured a brilliant play by Tyler Fitzgerald to turn a double unassisted, and a masterful play on a dribbler up the third base line scooped and gunned by Chapman to end the game, but Adames still doesn’t seem locked in.
Adames and Tyler haven’t yet found the comfort Chappy has, but one senses it’s coming. It’s a couple of clicks away from being really good.
Wilmer and LaMonte are holding first down and doing their respective jobs at the plate. The official personnel hope of GBC:
Do not deal Wilmer or Late-Night.
The Gauntlet III
The first Gauntlet of the season arrives early my friends. It will separate the men from the boys, the fit from the fatigued, the old from the able.
17 GAMES IN A ROW.
April 11th to 27th the Giants will play every single day, including
(shudder)
a nine game road trip to face the Yankees and Phillies and then a cross-country flight to play the Angels – NO OFF DAYS –
and then six more at home before a day off.
This will be a true test of the squad.
They better clean up the defense and reduce walks, because that’s how the Yankees stack crooked numbers on the scoreboard.
Giants Baseball Corner 