Ray had just about the worst first inning imaginable after being spotted a four-run lead before even toeing the rubber. He walked four batters, including two with the bases loaded, and threw 39 pitches in total before narrowly escaping. It did get easier after that though as he pulled the nose up a bit, besides coughing up a game-tying home run to Bryce Harper. In the end, this looked a lot like one of those old school Diamondbacks starts where Ray couldn’t place his fastball and fell behind in practically every at-bat. He’s lined up for a two-start week against the Brewers and Rangers next.

The 33-year-old southpaw allowed just two hits in the contest, but he also issued four walks which led to an elevated pitch count of 98 through four innings and nearly cost him a shot at an easy victory. The fact that the game was called due to rain is the only reason he factored into the decision. The only run that the Yankees were able to muster against him came on an RBI double by Austin Wells in the second inning. Ray generated 12 swings and misses on the night, eight of those on his slider, while posting a CSW of 24 percent. He’ll carry a 3-0 record, 2.93 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 13/10 K/BB ratio (15 1/3 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Phillies in Philadelphia.

Ray was absolutely cruising through the first five innings, not allowing a single baserunner. However, the wheels started to fall off in the sixth. Ray allowed a lead-off single to Gavin Lux and then was able to get a groundout before allowing back-to-back home runs and a walk before being removed from the game. The left-hander posted a 25 percent whiff rate and 24 percent CSW on the day and struggled to find the strike zone with anything other than his fastball, including his new changeup, which had just a 20 percent strike rate. Better days are ahead for Ray, who will next square off against a Seattle team that struggled against lefties last year.