CHICAGO – Now this was the Chris Archer the Pirates thought they were getting when they traded for him last July.
Archer was dominant for six innings Friday, doing everything you would possibly want to see in a No. 1 starter. He was striking hitters out with ease, not giving up the home runs and walks that have haunted him throughout the season, getting ahead in the count and mixing his pitches.
Simply, put he looked like the two-time All-Star that he was in his seven seasons with the Rays and why the Pirates gave up a huge amount of talent to acquire him.