Robbie Ray pitching against Diamondbacks will take center stage Thursday as the San Francisco Giants send their star left-hander against his former club in Phoenix, looking to even the series after two losses. Following a tightly contested comeback by San Francisco in extra innings, both teams are eager to sustain momentum with their top starters back on the mound.
Pitchers Seek to Regain Early Season Form
The Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants opened their four-game series with Arizona claiming the first two games before the Giants secured a dramatic 6-5 win in 10 innings on Wednesday night. Both Robbie Ray and Arizona’s Brandon Pfaadt started the year with exceptional performances but have since faced inconsistency as the season unfolded. Ray, who began with seven consecutive wins for San Francisco, has only one victory in his last six starts. However, his recent outing showed promise as he allowed just one run over six innings against the Chicago White Sox, though he suffered a 1-0 loss due to a lack of run production from his team.
Pfaadt’s Rollercoaster Season Continues
For Arizona, right-hander Brandon Pfaadt started hot, winning all five of his April games with a 2.43 ERA. His fortunes changed in May and June, as his ERA ballooned and his win-loss record leveled off. In his recent performance last Saturday, he gave up three runs—two earned—over five innings in an extra-innings loss to the Miami Marlins. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo closely monitored his starter’s pitch count, emphasizing player safety after a taxing first inning.
“I could see that he was fatiguing, and he had a 35-pitch first (inning)”
—Torey Lovullo, Arizona manager
“I’m always in this space where, if it’s over 30 pitches, I chop your overall number down just to protect your arm and your shoulder.”
—Torey Lovullo, Arizona manager
Robbie Ray Reunion and Pitching Matchup History
Robbie Ray brings added intrigue to this game, having spent five and a half seasons with the Diamondbacks from 2015 to 2020. He faced his former team for the first and only time on May 13, earning his sixth victory of the year after surrendering three runs over six innings in a Giants win. In contrast, Pfaadt has struggled in four career starts against San Francisco, posting an 0-3 record and a 4.82 ERA. During their head-to-head meeting on May 13, Ray bested Pfaadt, with Pfaadt giving up four runs in four innings and taking the loss.
Diamondbacks Focus on Fundamentals
After a narrow defeat Wednesday, Arizona’s management underscored the necessity of executing basic plays and attention to detail in close games. Lovullo shared his ongoing message to the team about the importance of sharp fundamentals, referencing missed plays that can influence outcomes.
“One thing I just want to make sure that we continue to preach to these guys is that those little things, those plays that don’t get made, those missed cutoff men, those types of things matter,”
—Torey Lovullo, Arizona manager
“We always hammer down on that.”
—Torey Lovullo, Arizona manager
Key Players and Bullpen Updates
The Giants may need to manage late-game pitching differently, as closer Camilo Doval could be unavailable following a demanding two-inning appearance on Wednesday. Doval, despite blowing a save with a home run allowed to Ketel Marte, managed to secure the win by striking out the final two batters, stranding the tying run at third base in extra innings. His performance drew praise from Giants manager Bob Melvin, who highlighted Doval’s resilience under pressure.
“I was probably as impressed with him as I’ve been all year, going back out there and leaving the runner out there,”
—Bob Melvin, San Francisco Giants manager
“I know he gave up a hit and a homer, and that didn’t feel too terribly good, but to be able to respond from that, go back out there, keep your wits about you. …. His stuff was even better in the last inning, so it was impressive.”
—Bob Melvin, San Francisco Giants manager
What’s at Stake As Series Continues
Thursday’s matchup featuring Robbie Ray pitching against Diamondbacks stands as a pivotal game for both clubs. The Giants seek to build on their comeback and restore balance to the series, while Arizona aims to capitalize on home-field advantage. Ray’s return to Chase Field, combined with Pfaadt’s attempt to regain early-season strength, provides a compelling showdown between familiar foes. With both teams eyeing playoff positioning, fundamentals, bullpen management, and timely pitching performances could determine the outcome as this series unfolds in Phoenix.