Archer ready, waiting
Eager to start Tuesday at PNC Park, contribute to team’s success.
SAN DIEGO — Chris Archer is scheduled to make his seventh start of the season Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park. It will be the first time the Pirates have played at home since May 8 against the Texas Rangers. Archer hasn’t pitched in Pittsburgh since April 21st.
The ordinarily loquacious 30-year-old had a pointed answer when asked how he was feeling going into his outing Tuesday against the Rockies.
“Ready,” Archer told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Archer’s previous outing Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks was his first since coming off the injured list with a right thumb inflammation.
According to Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomcyzk, there was a period when Archer couldn’t grip a baseball due to the injury.
Archer gave up 4 walks, 7 hits and 6 earned runs.
“I just had no control. I don’t know if it was the long layoff or whatever. I just didn’t have control,” he said. “It’s part of a long season. I had two not-so-great starts back-to-back. That’s what I mean when I say I’m ready. I’m ready to get back to doing my thing. I’m ready to get back to pitching the way I’m used to.”
Archer is excited about where the Pirates and what is possible going forward.
“Josh Bell has been a huge part of our success. I like the way [Starling] Marte and [Gregory] Polanco have played,” Archer said. “[Bryan] Reynolds has stepped up. We’ve got a lot of contributions from a lot of guys. Our defense has been sound. If we keep doing this, we can have an interesting season as we go deeper into the year.”
Bell has hit 14 homers and has 43 RBIs in the first 43 games of the season. Bell’s homers are the most for a Pirates player through 43 games since Willie Stargell hit 15 in 1973. Bell’s 30 extrabase hits are the most with the franchise after 43 games since Paul Waner had 35 in 1932.
“The first time I played against him was 2017, and I knew then he was capable of big things,” Archer said. “I’ve always known it was there. Last year wasn’t the best for him, but I think he learned a lot. He worked hard this offseason. We see the work coming to fruition.”
Archer was with the Tampa Bay Rays when they utilized an opener as the Pirates did Saturday in a win against the San Diego Padres.
“I feel that a team that is in our situation or the one that Tampa was in makes it a nice strategy to win a ballgame,” Archer said. “Ideally you’d have five healthy starters, which we don’t. If this what helps us get through the next couple of months, then it’s what we’ll do. I’ve seen it be successful.”
Jameson Taillon and Trevor Williams each are on the IL.
Archer gave a profound answer when asked about the resolve it takes for a team to overcome 20 players having stints on the IL.
“People, in general, underestimate us. But we think we’re a good team,” he said. “I don’t look at as resolve. We are six weeks in the season and are slightly above .500. For us to get to where we want to be we need to win 92 or 93 games. We’re going to have to play even better.”