Manager Bob Melvin indicated over the weekend that Ray (elbow) could be activated from the 60-day injured list and start for the Giants during the club's four-game road series against the Dodgers that begins Monday, MLB.com reports. "I don't want to get ahead of myself, but there's a good chance he'll be pitching in L.A," Melvin said. "It's a big deal. He's probably not going to go out there and throw 120 pitches his first time out, but he got up a sixth time [in his rehab start Friday]."

EDGE Analysis

Ray completed the 10th and presumably final start of his rehab assignment Friday, throwing 78 pitches over 5.1 scoreless innings for Triple-A Sacramento. The veteran southpaw underwent Tommy John surgery last May but rung up a 45:6 K:BB over 29.1 innings during his rehab stint. After pitching on four days' rest for Sacramento on Friday, Ray is likely to make his Giants debut either Wednesday or Thursday. A road matchup with the division-leading Dodgers isn't the most appealing draw, but his strikeout upside makes him a worthwhile pickup in most fantasy leagues, even if managers aren't keen on including him in active lineups right away.

Ray (elbow) will throw five innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Friday's outing is likely Ray's final rehab start before being reinstated from the injured list. If that's the case, the veteran southpaw could pitch during a four-game road series against the Dodgers early next week. Hayden Birdsong is the most likely candidate to lose their rotation spot once Ray is activated, although the team could opt to use a six-man rotation temporarily considering the Giants have a stretch of 11 games in 10 days coming out of the All-Star break.

Ray (elbow) struck out nine batters and gave up one hit and one walk over five scoreless innings in his rehab start Sunday with Single-A San Jose.

EDGE Analysis

Making his ninth and perhaps final minor-league rehab appearance as he works his way back from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, Ray submitted his lengthiest and best outing yet. He built up to 74 pitches (56 strikes) in the rehab start and now owns a 4.13 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 38:4 K:BB in 24 innings over stops with San Jose, Triple-A Sacramento and the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. With Ray looking fully recovered from elbow surgery from both a workload and performance standpoint, he appears poised to return from the 60-day injured list to make his Giants debut coming out of the All-Star break. If the Giants opt to keep a five-man rotation intact rather than expanding to six, rookie Hayden Birdsong would seem to be most at risk of losing his starting spot once Ray is activated.

Ray (elbow) will make his next rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Sacramento, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The left-hander covered 3.2 frames in his previous outing for Sacramento on Friday, and he'll continue building up his workload with the Triple-A affiliate. Ray made four rehab starts in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and is now scheduled for a third appearance at Triple-A as he makes his way back from Tommy John surgery.

Ray (elbow) struck out two and allowed no runs on one hit and one walk over 2.1 innings in his rehab appearance Sunday for Triple-A Sacramento.

EDGE Analysis

Ray was one of three rehabbing Giants pitchers to take the bump for Sacramento on Sunday, with the lefty and Austin Warren (elbow) working behind starter Blake Snell (groin). Before moving up to Sacramento, Ray made four rehab starts in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, covering seven total innings while striking out 15 and allowing four runs on seven hits and no walks. Though his 2.1-inning appearance Sunday didn't represent a notable uptick in his workload, Ray still finished with 45 pitches (30 strikes) and turned in another clean outing. Ray looks to be building up for a starting role as he gears up for a return from Tommy John surgery, but he'll still likely need to get stretched out to around 75 pitches before the Giants are comfortable bringing him back from the 60-day injured list. Ray likely won't be a rotation option until after the All-Star break.

Ray (elbow) will make a rehab appearance for Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Ray pitched 1.2 innings during his most recent appearance in rookie ball, and he's slated to stretch out to three innings Sunday. The 32-year-old lefty will almost certainly make a few more rehab appearances following Sunday, keeping him on track for a return in mid-July.

Ray (elbow) surrendered three earned runs on four hits while striking out three in 1.2 innings during his third rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Ray struck out eight while allowing just one baserunner in three innings between his first two rehab outings, but he hit his first bump in the road Thursday. Three of the four hits he allowed went for extra bases, including a two-run home run in the first inning. On a positive note, Ray peppered the strike zone like he had his previous two outings, spotting 24 of his 31 pitches for strikes. According to MLB.com, Ray is scheduled to make another appearance in the ACL on Tuesday, and if all goes well, he could be cleared to advance to a higher-level affiliate his next time out. The veteran southpaw is coming back from May 3, 2023 Tommy John surgery and is expected to exhaust his 30-day rehab window before potentially returning from the 60-day injured list and joining the San Francisco rotation around the All-Star break.

Ray (elbow) is on track to return around the All-Star break, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

EDGE Analysis

Ray made his second rehab appearance with the Giants' rookie-level team Saturday, striking out five without allowing a baserunner over two innings. The southpaw began his rehab assignment June 4, and he could have it extended beyond the customary 30 days since he is returning from Tommy John surgery. Ray will likely make some of his rehab appearances in the higher levels of the minors later in the assignment.

Ray (elbow) struck out three in a scoreless inning Tuesday with the Arizona Complex League Giants in his first rehab appearance.

EDGE Analysis

Ray yielded a double to top Mariners prospect Felnin Celesten but pitched around it by inducing three swinging strikeouts. Coming back from last May's Tommy John surgery, the 32-year-old Ray will require multiple outings as he builds back up. With a 30-day rehab window, it looks like he should make it back before the All-Star break.

Ray (elbow) will throw live batting practice Saturday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Ray began throwing bullpen sessions during spring training, but Saturday will mark the first time he has faced hitters since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May of 2023. The 32-year-old southpaw still isn't expected to pitch for the Giants until around the All-Star break, but he certainly appears to be trending in the right direction. He will almost certainly throw a few additional rounds of live BP before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment, at which point a clearer picture regarding his return may emerge.