Seattle Mariners ace Robbie Ray won't play against the Blue Jays in Toronto during his team's three-game set beginning Monday, manager Scott Servais announced, according to the Seattle Times' Ryan Divish.
Servais didn't provide a reason for Ray's absence, and there are no plans for the reigning American League Cy Young winner to address the media, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.
Servais said Sunday "a couple players" wouldn't make the trip to Toronto because of the Canadian government's vaccine mandate. One of those players is right-hander Drew Steckenrider, who was placed on the restricted list before Monday's game.
Ray remains on the Mariners' active roster.
Unvaccinated starting pitchers who've pitched within four days of their team entering Canada are not eligible to be placed on the restricted list for competitive-advantage purposes ... It's a way to prevent those teams from filling that pitcher's roster spot.
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) May 16, 2022
Seattle signed the southpaw to a five-year, $115-million contract during the offseason after he turned around his career with the Blue Jays last season.
