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One of the better pitching duels of the season so far is set to take place on Monday night when the San Francisco Giants host the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a three-game series.

Robbie Ray is scheduled to start on the mound for the Giants, while fellow left-hander Kris Bubic will take the ball for the Royals.

Ray (6-0, 3.04 ERA) is the first San Francisco starter to win six of his first nine outings since John Burkett in 1993, when he finished 22-7.

The 2021 American League Cy Young winner has won all three of his outings this month, most recently bouncing back after surrendering three runs in the first inning to the Arizona Diamondbacks last Tuesday before blanking them over the next five in the 10-6 victory.

“First inning, felt like the slider wasn’t really there, but all three of my other pitches felt really good, so we just kind of leaned on fastball, curveball, changeup, and it felt like later in the game I found the slider and was able to incorporate it a little more,” Ray said. “But, first inning, just left a few sliders up and they put some good swings on them.”

Ray has made three starts against the Royals in his career, compiling a 2.13 ERA in those games without a decision.

Bubic has blossomed as a starter this season after coming out of the bullpen in all 27 of his appearances last season.

Bubic (4-2, 1.66) has the fifth-best ERA in the majors after nine starts and has been nearly flawless in his three outings this month, allowing one run over 18 1/3 innings for a 0.49 ERA.

Bubic said the key has been getting ahead in counts, giving him more options from his arsenal.

“I think it’s just constantly staying on the attack and getting good counts,” he said.

He most recently allowed one run and six hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 2-1 loss to the Houston Astros last Tuesday. He left with the score tied 1-1 before the Astros scored a run in the bottom of the ninth.

“It’s probably the best overall stuff I’ve had all year,” Bubic said. “I think just the combination of the fastball-changeup, and just kind of seeing how they’re playing in the zone and below the zone with the changeup.”

Royals manager Matt Quatraro wasn’t ready to call Bubic’s most recent outing his best this season. After all, Bubic has blanked five opponents for at least five innings this season, including twice this month.

“He’s spoiled us,” Quatraro said. “He’s thrown the ball exceptionally well all year.”

Bubic is a Bay Area native who has made three appearances against the Giants in his career, including two starts, and is 0-1 with a 2.03 ERA.

He threw six scoreless innings in San Francisco on April 9, 2023, but did not get the decision in the 3-1 loss, though he matched his career high with nine strikeouts, a mark he matched again in his most recent start against the Astros.

–Field Level Media