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Mariners Place Robbie Ray On 15-Day Injured List

By Mark Polishuk | April 1, 2023 at 11:04pm CDT

5:44PM: Ray suffered a Grade 1 strain, Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters (including MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer).  The team’s plan is to shut Ray down for two weeks and then re-evaluate after that period of daily treatment, with a rough timeline of 4-6 weeks until Ray’s eventual return from the IL.  Ray told media that he began to develop some flexor pain during the second inning of yesterday’s game.

3:24PM: Left-hander Robbie Ray has been placed on the Mariners’ 15-day injured list due to a left flexor strain.  Southpaw Gabe Speier was called up from Triple-A to take Ray’s spot on the active roster.

Ray made his season debut last night and only lasted 3 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits and five walks.  Even with Ray’s history of control issues, the five walks is probably the biggest indicator that something wasn’t quite right with Ray, and he threw 91 pitches over his 3 1/3 frames of work.  The Mariners have yet to publicly comment on the severity of Ray’s injury or a possible return timeline, but it would certainly seem like he’ll miss more than the minimum 15 days just out of pure caution in dealing with injuries in the forearm or elbow area.

After Ray won the AL Cy Young Award as a member of the Blue Jays in 2021, Seattle inked him to a five-year, $115MM free agent contract in the following offseason.  Ray’s first season as a Mariner wasn’t up to the level of his 2021 performance but it was still solid, as the southpaw posted a 3.71 ERA, 27.4% strikeout rate, and a slightly below-average 8% walk rate.  Ray continued to allow a lot of hard contact, but that has been the norm throughout his MLB career.

Just three days into the 2023 season, the Mariners have already had to deal a notable rotation injury, after getting through 2022 with a remarkable run of health from its starters.  While the M’s have four off-days between today and April 25, the construction of their schedule means they will need a fifth starter in Ray’s absence, though Seattle has a very qualified replacement in Chris Flexen.  Trade rumors swirled around Flexen (and Marco Gonzales) for much of the offseason, though the Mariners’ decision to hang onto their starting depth is now looking wise in hindsight, especially if Ray is facing any kind of extended absence.

Speier is now set to make his first appearance in a Seattle uniform, after being claimed off waivers from the Royals last November.  Speier is also the only left-handed pitcher in a bullpen stacked with right-handed relievers, so Speier’s inclusion will add some balance to the relief mix.  A veteran of four MLB seasons, Speier has a 3.83 ERA over 40 career innings with the Royals, appearing in rather sporadic fashion for Kansas City since making his debut in the Show in 2019.

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Newsstand Seattle Mariners Transactions Gabe Speier Robbie Ray

Injury Notes: Dickerson, Whitlock, Gonsolin, Haniger, Slater
Main
Cardinals Notes: Contreras, Nootbaar, Gallegos, Wainwright
View Comments (87)

Comments

  1. Jon M

    2 months ago

    At least it wasn’t his teres major.

    Reply
    • Lefty_Orioles_Fan

      2 months ago

      Tight pants though

      Reply
      • myaccount2

        2 months ago

        In a season like this, we should just call up Bryce Miller instead. Oh well.

        Reply
        • dannycore

          2 months ago

          We don’t need a starter. Flex just jumps back into the rotation for now

        • myaccount2

          2 months ago

          Yeah, good point. I’m fine with just letting Flexen take the rotation spot. He did pitch 17 innings over 5 games in spring so he’s likely stretched out enough.

        • ayrbhoy

          2 months ago

          Mya2- I’m a little unsure of the RPer to take Flexen’s place in the BP. In other words I’m not confident that Flexen’s replacement will be as good in that mop up/long relief role. The thing about Flexen…

          He is a really good reliable 4th or 5th SP. He has shown an ability to be a 2 WAR player with a ceiling of 3 maybe 3.5 WAR. How many rotations in Baseball can pluck a guy out of the BP/Minor Lgs with that type of proven success? Only a handful of contenders.

          Tbh I think Flexen is undervalued because SPers with his velocity/stuff are unfairly compared to SPers who shove the ball harder. Flex knows the art of pitching. Young fireballers like B Miller might miss more bats but they still have yet to learn the skill of reading the swings of ML hitters on the biggest stage. I for one am relieved we made the sensible decision to keep Flexen (and Marco) on the roster.

        • lamars

          2 months ago

          @Ayrbhoy
          Matt Brash will probably take over Flexen’s role as long reliever.

        • myaccount2

          2 months ago

          I highly doubt Brash’s role is changing.

        • myaccount2

          2 months ago

          ayrbhoy- Definitely. I posted my immediate reaction without thinking through the options.

        • lamars

          2 months ago

          Myaccount

          Then who do you see replacing Flexen?

        • myaccount2

          2 months ago

          Speier or Festa. Brash is too valuable in his role.

    • For Love of the Game

      2 months ago

      A strain is still torn tissue. Flexor strain could be pretty bad. Just wait and see what happens.

      Reply
      • drfelix

        2 months ago

        Flexen last year had a 2.2 era against Houston. I don’t think they will call up Miller for at least 6 weeks so his service clock doesn’t start. this is what Paxton kept experiencing and even when he came back he just was never back to normal ‍♂️

        Reply
        • ayrbhoy

          2 months ago

          Except Robbie Ray is not made of glass like Paxton. The day Paxton picked up a baseball he’s had an injury track record the length of the Great Wall of China! All 13,000 + miles of it!

          I suspect the cold weather played a part in Robbie’s injury. As much as I love MLB they need to either play less games or schedule more dbl headers so they can start later in the year. So much of the Country is frigid this time of year. Baseball players shouldn’t have to wear balaclavas!

          There is zero comparison between Paxton and Ray- one is a horse the other is a broken dish waiting to be epoxied.

  2. Elvis On Tour!

    2 months ago

    Throw the f’ing ball, Robbie!

    Reply
  3. Rsox

    2 months ago

    Guess keeping Flexen was a good idea after all

    Reply
    • Larry Brown's crank

      2 months ago

      he does add flexibility!

      Reply
  4. Fred Park

    2 months ago

    Maybe this explains why he pitched so bad yesterday.
    I wonder if someone will move up to become a starter now?
    Brash, maybe?

    Reply
    • SODOMOJO

      2 months ago

      He was missing up. Which he never does.

      Reply
      • Fred Park

        2 months ago

        True, SODOMOJO, and I got a feeling pretty soon that something was wrong.
        Well, there will be more story to come and we will learn some things from that.

        Reply
      • FIVE

        2 months ago

        Was at the game last night behind home plate. He was noticeably uncomfortable and stressed. After throwing nine straight balls, we were wondering about the yips. He gets a lot of undue criticism in Seattle after the Alvarez HR. I like him and the investment. Really tired of fans dumping on him. All that seemed to be on his mind last night as he was struggling. Hopefully he gets a little rest and comes back soon.

        Reply
        • bronxmac77

          2 months ago

          Good grief! Dude needs to grow a sac! Not crawl into a corner in a fetal position. Jiminy Christmas!

    • Fred Park

      2 months ago

      What I mean is, sad though it would be, this may be the beginning of the end for Robbie Ray.
      That is how the bad decline starts for a guy who already had a few control issues pushing him to try even harder.
      I hope not, but I guess time will tell.
      This website is acting funny. It wants to show this comment twice.
      Good grief.

      Reply
      • Winslow Leach

        2 months ago

        Beginning of the end? don’t you think you’re jumping the gun a bit?

        Reply
        • Fred Park

          2 months ago

          Yes, Winslow Leach, I did jump the gun.
          I came on here to say that, and I found your comment.
          I panicked before even finding out that it is a grade 1 strain, which is not so scary.
          I need to find a middle ground, I think.

        • Winslow Leach

          2 months ago

          These things happen. Especially coming out of SP. The cold air might have something to do with it.

        • Fred Park

          2 months ago

          Now the same thing is happening to Gilbert on Saturday night in the second inning of game 3, throwing way too many pitches.
          Egad.

        • MortDingle

          2 months ago

          no worries, everyone is having a problem with the comment clock

        • bronxmac77

          2 months ago

          Actually, you’re probably right. Game over.

        • iamrobertkrogh

          2 months ago

          Starting pitchers regularly get injured right after spring training?

        • bronxmac77

          2 months ago

          Highly paid milquetoast starting pitchers do…

  5. jaytibbs

    2 months ago

    Good riddance, the team is better without him.

    Reply
    • Dock_Elvis

      2 months ago

      At Trivial Pursuit?

      Reply
    • bronxmac77

      2 months ago

      Good riddance. MLBTR is better without you.

      Reply
  6. SODOMOJO

    2 months ago

    LOUD GRUNT!!!

    Reply
  7. antsmith7

    2 months ago

    What a terrible signing that turned out to be.

    Reply
    • Winslow Leach

      2 months ago

      I dunno know about that. He was good the last 2 years.

      Reply
      • SLL

        2 months ago

        The Mariners have had him for just one year. He was okay, not good.

        Reply
        • lamars

          2 months ago

          Leach,

          I disagree, 3.71 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 212 SO aren’t too shabby. The average ERA is 4.00 and average WHIP is 1.30. Besides is high ERA he was very good, not great for the Mariners.

        • flamingbagofpoop

          2 months ago

          He was average. 100 ERA-, 108 FIP-, 1.8fWAR. Solidly average.

    • johnrealtime

      2 months ago

      It has been a good signing thus far and this injury doesn’t appear to be serious. Early season, everyone rushes to push the panic button

      Reply
      • jjd002

        2 months ago

        Not a good signing at all. The guy is making $21 million to put up league average production last season, while having almost four more seasons and almost $100 million left on the contract. It is a very bad signing when accounting for the dollars and years for a 3 starter, at best.

        Reply
        • johnrealtime

          2 months ago

          Above average. I recommend recalibrating what you think an annual salary of 21 million gets on the free agent market. This isn’t 2017

        • jjd002

          2 months ago

          Average still doesn’t make $21 million a year, nor does average get $100+ million contract. His contract goes up this season and next season. His $21 million was last year’s salary and was also the 14th highest paid pitcher. Is he the 14th best pitcher in baseball? He is overpaid in terms of years and dollar value.

        • johnrealtime

          2 months ago

          He was the Cy Young Winner in 2021 and he was above average in basically every pitching category last year. I do not understand why you keep using that word to describe him. Top MLB pitchers are now getting 40+ mil on the free agent market. Carlos Rodon is a pretty good comp and he just signed a deal making 28 mil annually, which is more than Ray will make during any year of his contract.

          I think you are both undervaluing Ray’s contributions and also have an outdated view on the current going rate of free agent SPs

  8. retired/advisory role

    2 months ago

    I have never seen so many “strains” in my life. This is absolutely insane the way these players are getting hurt nonstop. The injury list in all of baseball is crazy.

    Reply
    • vandilioff

      2 months ago

      It’s all the new work out regimes. Everyone’s too fit

      Why advisory role back in our daaaaasys…

      Reply
  9. cano1keepup

    2 months ago

    Robbie has been such a liability, i think we have a better team without him. Instead i will take a half year of Flexen and then Miller in the second half and into the playoffs. Best case scenario honestly.

    Reply
    • Holden Bases

      2 months ago

      What? What?

      Reply
    • drfelix

      2 months ago

      Or stretch out Brash for the 2nd half and bring Miller into the pen. They have a number of many options. Hancock is ready too, so is Dollard

      Reply
      • SLL

        2 months ago

        Hancock and Dollard aren’t ready, though Miller probably is. However, for now they have an experienced Major League starter, Flexen – and they really like what Brash is doing in the bullpen. (I do hope he gets a chance to be a starter later, but it will probably not be this year.)

        Reply
    • Stevil

      2 months ago

      He gave Seattle 189 innings and 212 Ks last year, and projects well.

      He isn’t an ace, and the HR he coughed up to Álvarez stung. But calling him a liability is simply inaccurate.

      Reply
      • jjd002

        2 months ago

        He is being paid like an ace and performing like a 3. He put up an ERA+ of 100 last season. Very bad signing.

        Reply
      • cano1keepup

        2 months ago

        He is paid as an ace and you hold your breath everytime he pitches in a pressure situation. He is an inning eater not a $100+M pitcher. Flexen offers the same attributes for a fraction of the cost, and actually keeps hitters off balance much better. If the team doesn’t chase, like the Indians, he struggles. The splitter would help him but didn’t throw one in his start.

        Reply
        • Stevil

          2 months ago

          I look at Verlander, Scherzer, and deGrom as examples of what ace free agents make.

          Seattle didn’t likely sign him believing they were getting an ace, their projections likely had him as a solid number 2, which is fair given his history of IPs and Ks.

          Comparing him to Flexen is apples & oranges, but Flexen made some changes this offseason that might help him miss more bats.

        • lamars

          2 months ago

          “Flexen offers the same attributes for a fraction of the cost”.

          Tell us when Flexen had 200+ SO in a season. Tell us when Flexen had a WHIP of 1.16 in a season. Ray has struck out 200+ 5x’s in his career. Something Flexen will never do. Ray is performing like a borderline #1 while Flexen will be no better than a #4 or #5 starter.

        • Winslow Leach

          2 months ago

          Does Seattle have a #1?

        • Hammerin' Hank

          2 months ago

          It’s laughable to compare Flexen and his pathetic 6.2 career k/9 and 1.44 WHIP to Robbie Ray, one of the top 40 starters in baseball. This guy is similar to Dakota Hudson, a borderline major league starter who for some reason is loved by his team’s fan base.

        • flamingbagofpoop

          2 months ago

          1.8 fwar is not a borderline #1.

  10. hllywdjff

    2 months ago

    Was cold last night he should have been wearing sleeves…

    Reply
  11. Old York

    2 months ago

    Pitchers need to be taught to pitch not just max effort all the time.

    Reply
    • NoSaint

      2 months ago

      @Old York
      It’s easier to hit something going 90 mph than 100 mph.

      Reply
      • Prospectnvstr

        2 months ago

        NoSaint Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Jamie Moyer and countless others show that you can have success PITCHING when you actually KNOW how to PITCH & not just trying to throw as hard as you can.

        Reply
        • lamars

          2 months ago

          That is baseball of the past, in today’s game it’s ALL about how hard you can throw. You know it’s that when they talk about how a pitcher loses velocity because they dropped from 94-91 mph.

        • bronxmac77

          2 months ago

          Warren Spahn led the NL in CG for seven straight years. From age 36-42. And his totals were in the 20s and 30s. All after he lost his best fastball..

      • stymeedone

        2 months ago

        Many times, there is more movement on a pitch at 90, than at 100. Its easier to hit a fastball with no movement.

        Reply
  12. Kyle T

    2 months ago

    Guys if you havent noticed…Robbie cant pitch in cold weather..They are just doing this so he doesnt have to pitch in 40 to 50 degree weather..Its not really a strain.

    Reply
    • kellin

      2 months ago

      If that’s the case he’s on the wrong team. It’s often cold in Seattle.

      Reply
    • Holden Bases

      2 months ago

      It’s not cold on all road trips…

      Reply
    • Stevil

      2 months ago

      So, the Mariners have an accurate forecast for the next 2-8 weeks that would make them willing to waste a 20m± player, because they think he might not pitch well in cooler climate?

      Why even sign him if that was a concern, and how do you explain his 3 quality starts last April?

      Reply
      • Kyle T

        2 months ago

        its a long season…robbie missing 2 to 3 starts isnt that big of a deal especially so early in the season.

        Reply
        • Kyle T

          2 months ago

          Ive lost Weight before and also lowered my body fat percentage..i did this while on the east coast where ot was warmer then washington…and when i came home it was a huge shift.. i freeze all the time now

        • Stevil

          2 months ago

          Missing games because of an injury is one thing. Suggesting the team is faking an injury to intentionally sit an important player is another.

        • bronxmac77

          2 months ago

          Does the T stand for Teletubbie, K?

    • stymeedone

      2 months ago

      I love a good conspiracy theory, but only for amusement purposes.

      Reply
  13. Latino Heat

    2 months ago

    Hopefully he’s back and pitching against the Astros, they destroy him

    Reply
  14. Mariners, Seahawks1

    2 months ago

    Doesnt really matter if the Mariners dont score any runs like tonight they wont win anyway. I know it has been only 3 games but 7 run for 3 games isnt great. I just wished they would have spent some money on a real high level hitter this off season, Tommy LaStella as the dh just wont do it.

    Reply
    • Slothcliff Hokum

      2 months ago

      Yes, small sample size, but it is not an encouraging start for the offense. They had the opportunity to move Crawford off of SS and throw enough silly money at one of the FA shortstops this winter to convince one to sign. Adding Wong and Teoscar probably wasn’t near enough… I hope more of the M’s will start hitting soon, or it won’t be pretty. I don’t think Seattle improved this winter as much as the Angels (and maybe Texas) did.

      Reply
      • Latino Heat

        2 months ago

        Look around the league. There’s plenty of top players who are struggling. Mookie betts hitting under .200, Bregman doesn’t even have a single hit, and there are plenty others. It’s been 3 games. Let’s talk about the world being on fire when we’re about 50 games in

        Reply
        • Winslow Leach

          2 months ago

          @Latino Heat-Ahhhhhhg were 3 or 4 games into the season. Let’s pump the brakes on these small sample size’s as examples

        • Latino Heat

          2 months ago

          Reading is hard. That’s exactly what I said. Did you miss the part where I said let’s wait 50 games til we decide the world is on fire? You should really read someone’s post before you try to comment on it

  15. GiantJim

    2 months ago

    Joe Strain.

    Reply
  16. #FireFarhan

    2 months ago

    Tough break

    Reply
  17. Dread Pirate Roberts

    2 months ago

    So Ray won’t be back in may?

    Reply
    • bronxmac77

      2 months ago

      It could be any day. Or he could just…. fade away…

      Reply
  18. bronxmac77

    2 months ago

    “3 comments are hidden because you muted the comment authors”

    Heh heh heh heh.
    HEH HEH HEH HEH!

    Reply
  19. bronxmac77

    2 months ago

    Wow. Just…wow.

    Reply

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