Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
When Chris Archer went down with a forearm injury in his start back on Wednesday, fans of the Tampa Bay Rays feared the worst. After all, news like a forearm injury typically doesn’t bode well for a pitcher. However, it looks like the Rays may have avoided something serious in regard to his injury.
Archer has been brilliant for the Rays this season. He got a cup of coffee up with them last season, but has proven himself as an effective big league pitcher this season, proving a key to their second half success in his 13 starts. Losing him would have been a devastating blow to the Rays.
On the season, Archer has a 2.71 ERA in those 13 starts, striking out 52 and walking 29 hitters in just over 76 innings pitched. He has a dazzling WHIP, at just 1.10 on the season. Since his callup back at the beginning of June, he’s allowed more than three earned runs in a start only twice.
Archer left his start on Wednesday with what was believed to be a forearm injury. It was the same night in which Wil Myers was also forced to leave the game, leaving the Rays possibly seeing their playoff lives flash before their eyes. For Myers, it was believed to be issues with asthma.
For Archer, the injury was enough to force him out of his start, but won’t hold him back from making his next scheduled start on Tuesday. Given the fact that forearm issues have the potential to lead to Tommy John surgery, the Rays dodged a major bullet with their young hurler.
This is fantastic news for the Rays, as they’ll maintain a healthy roster that has been the best team in the American League over the course of the past several months. With Archer healthy, they’ll continue to boast one of the best rotations in baseball, and will be that much more dangerous here down the stretch.
