Chris Archer Fantasy Baseball News
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays’ Chris Archer: Tandem role in first ’21 start
Chris Archer threw 75 pitches in an intrasquad game Monday but is scheduled to pitch in tandem with Rich Hill in his first regular-season appearance Saturday versus the Marlins, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.Manager Kevin Cash added that he expects the two pitchers to each make a conventional start their second turn through the rotation, but the tandem arrangement will be followed for each veteran’s season debut. As presently planned, Hill will open the game before giving way to Archer at some to-be-determined point in the contest, with a variety of factors including game flow naturally set to play a part. Manager Kevin Cash spoke highly of Archer’s performance this spring, noting the team is “thrilled” with the right-hander’s body of work throughout camp and Grapefruit League play (1.35 ERA across 6.2 innings).
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays’ Chris Archer: Sharp again in Wednesday outing
Chris Archer allowed an earned run on a solo home run and also issued a walk over 3.1 innings in a Grapefruit League win over the Twins on Wednesday. He struck out two.Adam Berry of MLB.com reports Archer worked up to 51 pitches, 31 of which he threw for strikes. The right-hander’s velocity was as high as 94-95 mph, and Archer reportedly came away satisfied with the performance of his changeup. The veteran is due for approximately a 70-pitch outing in his final spring training appearance before opening the regular season as the projected No. 4 starter.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays’ Chris Archer: Flexible about ’21 usage
Chris Archer, who entered Friday’s Grapefruit League loss to the Red Sox in the fourth inning and fired a pair of clean frames with two strikeouts, is ready to be utilized as a bulk reliever after an opener whenever the situation might call for it this coming season, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.Archer is still expected to be utilized as a conventional starter more often than not, but Berry notes some members of the rotation not named Tyler Glasnow may also be asked to log bulk-relief work on occasion. Archer last pitched out of the bullpen during the 2013 AL Division Series, but he emphasized Friday he’s ready to help the team in whatever capacity necessary. “Not playing baseball for a long time, really, it humbled me,” Archer said. “I’ve put my ego to the side and I’m more open-minded. It also helps that the guys that we’ll be bringing in are really, really talented.”
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays’ Chris Archer: Ready to go
Chris Archer said Friday that he has no doubts that he’ll be ready to go when the regular season begins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Archer is working his way back from thoracic outlet surgery, one of the riskiest surgeries for a pitcher to undergo. Reports have been good this spring, though, and he retired all four batters he faced in his spring debut Friday against Boston, with Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reporting Archer’s slider, changeup and fastball velocity all received high grades from manager Kevin Cash. He may be limited to four or five innings per outing to start the year, though that would hardly make him unique among Tampa Bay Rays pitchers.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays’ Chris Archer: Looks sharp in sim game
Chris Archer impressed with his performance in a simulated game Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. “(Pitching coach Kyle Snyder) is really excited about the shape to the slider,” manager Kevin Cash said. “It’s as good as we’ve seen it, and we’ve seen it really good in the past. So that’s encouraging.”Archer has been ramping up well thus far after missing all of last season with the Pirates due to surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. Once thought to have the talent of a legitimate staff ace, Archer has never quite been able to live up to that expectation over a full season; however, he’s only being counted on as a No. 4 starter as he begins his second tour of duty in Tampa Bay, and early returns are positive. Topkin notes Archer’s next step is likely his Grapefruit League debut, potentially Friday against the Red Sox.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays’ Chris Archer: Throwing sim game Saturday
Chris Archer will participate in a simulated game Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Archer has been brought up relatively slowly to begin spring training after missing the entire 2020 season due to a shoulder injury. The right-hander threw a light bullpen session Wednesday and will now take part in an intrasquad matchup Saturday. If all goes well during Saturday’s sim game, Archer’s next step could be to take part in a Grapefruit League contest.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays’ Chris Archer: Weekend action likely on tap
Chris Archer threw a light bullpen session Wednesday and appears on track to pitch either Saturday or Sunday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.The right-hander has been brought along at a relatively deliberate pace early in spring camp after missing all of last season, but Archer’s ramp-up process has seemingly gone off without a hitch. Whenever his Grapefruit League debut does unfold, it will mark his first game action since Aug. 20, 2019.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays’ Chris Archer: Looks good facing hitters
Chris Archer’s velocity and slider were both where the Tampa Bay Rays expected when the right-hander faced live hitters Sunday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.There are plenty of eyes on the veteran in the nascent days of his return to the Rays, as Archer missed all of last season for the Pirates following surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. Archer reported having added muscle this offseason and feeling back to full health overall, and manager Kevin Cash noted that the 32-year-old will throw one more session against live hitters before making his Grapefruit League debut.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays’ Chris Archer: Healthy, stronger in early workouts
Chris Archer has been a full participant in the Tampa Bay Rays’ workouts for pitchers and catchers thus far and reported to spring training with 6 to 7 pounds of additional muscle, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.The right-handed reclamation project is seemingly in a very good place both physically and mentally as he begins his second tour of duty with the Rays after missing all of 2020 due to neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. The surgery Archer underwent was a complete success, freeing him up to pack on some muscle onto his usually lithe frame this offseason and eclipse the 200-pound mark in bodyweight. Archer is throwing bullpen sessions without restrictions as he prepares to fill a spot in the back half of Tampa Bay’s starting rotation.
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays’ Chris Archer: Eliminating two-seamer
Chris Archer (shoulder) said Tuesday that he won’t be throwing any two-seam fastballs this year, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.Archer leaned heavily on the two-seamer early in his career, throwing it as often as 41.1 percent of the time in 2014. He then largely shelved it for the next three seasons before bringing it back and using it 9.4 percent of the time in 2018 and 2019 with mostly poor results. He seemingly needs a tweak to bounce back from his poor 2019 season, in which he struggled to a 5.19 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. His health remains the biggest question mark after he missed all of 2020 due to thoracic outlet surgery.
