Robbie Ray is having a stellar season as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays and it's putting the left-handed pitcher in the conversation for American League Cy Young.
Ray — who is 9-5 with a 2.72 ERA and 1.02 WHIP on the season — has heard the chatter and is humbled to have his named discussed alongside Gerrit Cole and Lance Lynn, among others.
"To be mentioned with the same guys consistently mentioned on the top of that list is a huge honour," Ray said in an appearance Friday on Sportsnet 590 The FAN's Baseball Central.
"I don't really focus on personal accolades. Going out every time, trying to win every pitch, putting up zeros for my team. Everything has fallen into place."
The 29-year-old spent a lot of time working with Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker in the off-season, improving his command and control to reduce his walks and home runs.
The result is a season where he is first among AL pitchers in bWAR (5.5) and strikeouts (192), and second in both ERA and WHIP. His team-record (for a lefty) 14-strikeout performance against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday is part of an impressive month of August where Ray has posted a 1.59 ERA over 34 innings.
Ray joined the Blue Jays at the 2020 trade deadline from the Arizona Diamondbacks, underwhelming that season with a 2-5 record and 6.62 ERA.
He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in the off-season and is expected to command a lucrative new contract given his performance in 2021. However, the starting pitcher is focused solely on the present, doing anything he can to get the Blue Jays to the post-season.
"I'm just focused on one game at a time," Ray said. "Everything as far as free agency will fall into place, as long as I put up zeros and give my team a chance to win."
