started the season off so well. Now he seems to be free-falling back to 2016. Three home runs allowed to the Orioles on Monday night reminded me a lot of the 30 he surrendered last year. Did Archer fool all of us by looking lights out to begin the season?
-- Bill D., St. Petersburg
According to Statcast™ research Monday night, Archer's location appeared to be the culprit, and the problem didn't have anything to do with a change in his stuff. Basically, the disciplined Orioles hitters only put balls into play that were in the strike zone, and the three home runs were all close to the middle of the plate.