LEADING OFF: NL East showdown, wild Cards at 16, Yanks-Jays
Zack Wheeler pitches Tuesday night for Philadelphia in the opener of a pivotal three-game series at AtlantaSEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
MICHAEL WACHA #52 - PITCHER - KANSAS CITY ROYALS
13-8 W-L •
1.19 WHIP •
3.35 ERA
13-8 W-L
1.19 WHIP
3.35 ERA
Wacha expected to start for the Rays against Astros
The Rays will start Michael Wacha on Tuesday while the Astros are expected to counter with Jose UrquidySEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
LEADING OFF: NL East showdown, wild Cards at 16, Yanks-Jays
Zack Wheeler pitches Tuesday night for Philadelphia in the opener of a pivotal three-game series at AtlantaSEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Works in long relief Tuesday Wacha won't start Wednesday against the Blue Jays after allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts and zero walks in three innings of long relief during Tuesday's loss.
Impact Wacha was penciled in as Wednesday's probable starter, but he instead covered the final three frames of Tuesday's contest for Tampa Bay. The veteran right-hander will be unavailable for the next couple days, and it's unclear if he'll make any more starts down the stretch after surrendering six runs in his previous start. Luis Patino was pushed up in the rotation to start Wednesday's series finale versus Toronto.
SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Ray scheduled to start for Blue Jays at Rays
The Blue Jays will start Robbie Ray on Monday while the Rays are expected to counter with Shane BazSEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Torched by Toronto Wacha (3-5) took the loss Wednesday, coughing up six runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings as the Rays fell 6-3 to the Blue Jays. He struck out five.
Impact After a handful of solid outings, Wacha turned in a dud. The right-hander served up a three-run blast to Bo Bichette in the first inning and never really recovered, although he was able to hang on for six innings to help save the bullpen a little. Wacha will carry a 5.56 ERA and 109:28 K:BB through 111.2 innings into his next start.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Bichette HRs, drives in 5; Ray fans 13 as Jays beat Rays 6-3
Bo Bichette homered and matched a career high with five RBIs, Robbie Ray fanned 13 over seven innings to claim the major league strikeout lead and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Ta...SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Choi and Lowe HR, Rays beat Jays 2-0 to reach 90-win mark
Drew Rasmussen combined with four relievers on a three-hitterSEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Strong showing in no-decision Wacha allowed a run on three hits and struck out six over five innings in a no-decision versus Detroit on Friday.
Impact He only allowed a solo home run to Eric Haase in the fifth inning before Tampa Bay's bullpen made a mess of things. Wacha was initially expected to be piggybacked Friday, but changes to Tampa Bay's pitching plans allowed the right-hander to serve as a traditional starter. He threw 47 of 68 pitches for strikes in the contest. Wacha has a 5.37 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 104:26 K:BB across 105.2 innings this year. He'll likely see another traditional start next week in Toronto.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Cabrera 9 hits in row, Schoop, Tigers win; Rays' Franco hurt
Miguel Cabrera got his ninth straight hit before the string ended, Jonathan Schoop launched a grand slam and the Detroit Tigers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 10-4SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wacha scheduled to start for Rays at Tigers
The Rays will start Michael Wacha on Friday and the Tigers are expected to counter with Matthew BoydSEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Renfroe HRs in 8th, throws out runner in 9th for Red Sox
Hunter Renfroe hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and threw out Joey Wendle trying for a triple from deep center field for the final out of the ninth as the Boston Red Sox be...SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Likely to be piggybacked Friday Wacha will make his next start Friday against the Tigers, but Rays manager Kevin Cash said Chris Archer would likely piggyback Wacha during the game, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay T...
Impact Though Wacha turned in a quality start his last time out Sept. 3 against the Twins en route to claiming his first win since July 7, he's still viewed as little more than the No. 5 or 6 pitcher in the Tampa Bay rotation. Archer is held in similar regard, and Cash feels that both could generate better results while handling lighter workloads as part of a tandem. The Rays will likely wait and see how the arrangement fares Friday before determining whether to proceed with the piggyback arrangement moving forward, but the setup would seem to favor Archer more than Wacha for fantasy purposes. Even if Wacha works longer of the two pitchers Friday, Archer would be better positioned to factor into any decision.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Archer scheduled to start for Tampa Bay against Minnesota
The Twins will start Andrew Albers on Saturday and the Rays are expected to counter with Chris ArcherSEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fans seven in victory Wacha (3-4) allowed two runs on three hits over six innings Friday, striking out seven and earning a win over Minnesota.
Impact Aside from a pair of solo homers by Jorge Polanco and Ryan Jeffers, Wacha cruised through the Twins' lineup in Friday's win. The Rays managed to push five runs across in the first three innings, leading the 30-year-old to his first win since July 7. He's allowed just three runs through 10.1 innings (2.61 ERA) over his last two appearances after registering a 6.93 ERA in his previous 11. Wacha will carry a 5.54 ERA into his projected road start against Detroit next week.
SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Wacha goes 6 effective innings, Rays beat Twins 5-3
Michael Wacha struck out seven over six innings, Kevin Kiermaier had an RBI triple during a three-run second and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Minnesota Twins 5-3SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wacha scheduled to start for Tampa Bay against Minnesota
The Rays will send Michael Wacha to the mound Friday and the Twins will give Randy Dobnak the startSEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rodriguez, Richards combine on 5-hitter, Red Sox beat Rays
Eduardo Rodriguez pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning, and the Boston Red Sox beat Tampa Bay 4-0 for a split of their four-game series with the AL East-leading RaysSEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Limits Orioles to one run Wacha took a no-decision Saturday against Baltimore, yielding one run on three hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He also had six strikeouts.
Impact Wacha turned in the most effective performance of his five August starts, holding the Orioles off the board for four innings before allowing a Pedro Severino double in the fifth that eventually came around to score against the Tampa Bay bullpen. Still, Wacha hasn't registered a victory since July 7, which was also the last time he pitched more than five innings. The 30-year-old is 2-4 in 23 appearances (18 starts) this season, logging a 5.70 ERA and 1.49 WHIP over 94.2 innings.
AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Arozarena HR in 8th, Rays keep pecking away at Orioles
Randy Arozarena hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Tampa Bays Rays continued their dominance over the Baltimore Orioles with a 4-3 victoryAUGUST 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Starting Saturday Wacha will start Saturday's game against the Orioles.
Impact Wacha has allowed at least four runs in each of his last four starts, but he'll attempt to turn things around on the road Saturday. The 30-year-old has an 0-2 record with a 9.95 ERA and 2.26 WHIP in 19 innings across his last four appearances.
AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Wacha scheduled to start for Tampa Bay against Baltimore
The Orioles will roll out John Means to the mound Saturday and the Rays plan to give Michael Wacha the startAUGUST 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
McClanahan solid, Zunino homers as Rays beat Orioles 6-3
Shane McClanahan won his fifth consecutive start, Mike Zunino hit a three-run homer and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3AUGUST 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fans nine in no-decision Wacha didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 7-5 extra-innings loss to the White Sox, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits over five innings. He struck out nine witho...
Impact The nine whiffs tied his season high. Wacha hasn't pitched more than five innings in any of his seven starts since the All-Star break, but the tight leash hasn't led to better results as he has a 7.64 ERA, 1.82 WHIP, 35:8 K:BB and 2.5 HR/9 in 33 innings over that stretch.
AUGUST 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Anderson delivers 2 key hits, White Sox beat Rays 7-5 in 11
Tim Anderson had a game-tying homer in the ninth inning and a tiebreaking RBI single in the 11th as the Chicago White Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-5 in a matchup of AL division le...AUGUST 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
