This was supposed to be the year of Alex Cobb or Matt Moore. Instead, with both of them having spent half of the season on the disabled list (DL), Chris Archer has been the number one success story of the 2015 season for the Tampa Bay Rays, the tag of ace and a rising star in the world of baseball. Without Archer's superlative 2015 season to date, the Rays would be in a world of hurt. Though this level of play is not unexpected, that he was able to put it all together and be a potential Cy Young candidate, at a time when he was most needed by his team was welcomed.
Acquired by the Rays from the Cubs, two big question marks plagued Archer's viability as a potential major league pitcher. He was essentially a two pitch pitcher and had a high potential for injury because he relies heavily on a slider. The injury bug has yet to hit and Archer is beginning to establish himself as one of the game's elite pitchers.
Archer proved the quote a reality that his ability maybe had no ceiling earlier this year when he went three consecutive starts where he didn't walk anyone and struck out at least ten. This has never been accomplished by a major league pitcher before. How good was Archer? Jake Elmore was playing and said this (from June 12 USA Today online) "A couple of guys who got hits said, 'I closed my eyes, to be honest."
As much as his fastball, slider and occasional change-up have helped him to where he is today, Archer's maturity has helped him transition from #3 starter into an ace. To ESPN earlier this year, Archer said, "There's no room for fear," when asked about his approach to pitching. One has to wonder, if given the chance again, would the Chicago Cubs would still trade Archer?
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