Chris Archer, ace of the Rays staff, has not had the best start to the season. Through his first four starts of 2018, he held a 7.84 ERA with 18 earned runs in 20.2 IP (26 H, 9 BB, 24 SO). Something had to change for Archer to settle down into his old self.
We didn’t know just how old.
In his following start against Minnesota, the Rays starter made it into the seventh inning for the first time this season, allowing only 2 ER and 5 base runners, with 5 K’s. There were surely many contributing factors do his dominant performance, but one of those was the resurrection of Archer’s sinker.