It started with a text. Not from a coach, not from a scout, but from a future Hall of Famer humbled by the game’s cruel adjustments. One night, after watching a playoff broadcast from his couch, a Giants ace found himself mesmerized, not by velocity, not by raw power, but by a pitch that vanished like vapor. That pitch belonged to Detroit’s Tarik Skubal.

Robbie Ray, now donning a Giants jersey and fighting off time and inconsistency along with the entire team, didn’t hesitate. “Man, this guy’s got a disgusting changeup,” Ray said during All-Star media availability with Pitching Ninja. “And I needed something that could move to the other side of the plate.” The 33-year-old wasn’t just watching Skubal dominate; he was studying him, seeking a spark in a season that’s tested even his vast arsenal.

What came next was indeed a true sportsman’s move: direct, meticulous, and deeply respectful. He reached out to Matt Boyd and asked for an introduction to Skubal. “I was like, ‘Hey, if you don’t want to, it’s fine, but if you don’t mind giving me your change-up grip, that’d be great.” Skubal didn’t just send him a few notes; he flooded him with resources. Edgertronic videos, slow-motion breakdowns, high-res grip photos, and even drills. It wasn’t just a grip exchange; it was a masterclass.

And then came the “fun baseball” trick. “He drew a dot on the top of the ball, and he wanted me to throw it like a football,” Ray further revealed, eyes lighting up. Well, learning from someone who is among the dominating names in the sport is quite mesmerizing. Notably, Ray could have definitely sought help from one of the top names in their own camp: Justin Verlander. However, this comes at a time when the three-time Cy Young Award champion is having a tough time.

For the unversed, Verlander’s ERA has crept above 4.99, and whispers of decline grow louder this season. And hence, Ray’s attempt to look up to Skubal is quite understandable, given the 28-year-old standout pitcher showing improvement in strikeouts and possessing one of the effective changeups in baseball.

Giants bet on Verlander to set tone after All-Star break.

The Giants didn’t turn to their All-Star. They didn’t turn to their first-half MVP. Instead, they handed the ball to a 42-year-old with a 0-7 record and a 4.70 ERA. Verlander will start the first game of the second half, as first reported by John Shea of the San Francisco Standard. It’s a move that raises eyebrows, not because Verlander hasn’t earned respect over his career, but because 2025 hasn’t exactly been kind to him.

Logan Webb only threw 11 pitches during his one inning at the All-Star Game, and Ray didn’t pitch at all. Both were in Atlanta for the festivities and technically could’ve started Friday with adequate rest. So why go with Verlander? The answer might lie more in the long game than the short one. Manager Bob Melvin could be prioritizing freshness, not firepower, giving his top two arms just a bit more time to recharge after the All-Star spotlight.

But that puts pressure on Verlander to deliver something he hasn’t yet this season: a win. He’s made tweaks to his pitch mix, most notably borrowing a changeup grip from Tigers ace Skubal, and has shown flashes of sharper command. Whether those adjustments translate now, with the season entering its most unforgiving stretch, remains to be seen.

For a Giants team desperate to set the tone and mask offensive inconsistency, this outing isn’t just another start; it’s a trust fall.