Archer to rejoin Rays Friday

MLB

Archer to rejoin Rays Friday

Sep 6, 2012

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Tampa, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays announced Thursday that Clayton native Chris Archer will rejoin the major league squad on Friday.

Archer was scheduled to make a playoff start Friday with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuts, pending Minor League Baseball approval, to maintain his regular throwing schedule after the Durham Bulls season came to an end.

Archer could step into the rotation due to a shoulder injury to Jeff Niemann and a heavy workload by rookies Alex Cobb and Matt Moore. Niemann saw Dr. James Andrews Wednesday for a rotator cuff injury and was told he would likely be sidelined for a couple more weeks. Cobb has been in the No. 5 spot of the rotation for much of the season, but his mounting 113.2 innings pitched are starting to garner attention. Moore has thrown 162 - third most on the team.

This will be Archer’s second stint with the Rays this season. He made his MLB debut on June 20 against the Washington Nationals going six innings allowing one earned run on three hits and earning a tough-luck loss.

Archer, 23, was roughed up in his second start against Kansas City, giving up four earned runs on five hits in 5.2 innings. In a combined 11.2 innings with Tampa Bay, Archer has posted a 14-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

The former Clayton High School pitcher went 7-9 with a 3.66 ERA in 25 starts at Durham this season. His 54 runs allowed were the fewest of any Bulls pitcher with a minimum of 10 starts.

Tampa Bay is in the thick of the American League playoff picture with just a few weeks to play in the season. They enter Thursday 2.5 games behind the Yankees in the East and 1.5 games behind Baltimore for the final wild card spot.

Archer is one of a handful of Bulls that are making the jump to Tampa as the rosters expand to 40 players. In the past week, Reid Brignac, Chris Gimenez, Cesar Ramos, Rich Thompson, Brandon Gomes, Dane De La Rosa nd Steven Vogt hasve all joined the Rays.