Fansided

5 reasons the Tampa Bay Rays could be a sleeper in the Wild Card race

By Nathaniel Reeves

Aug 15, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Tampa Bay Rays ball cap and glove during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers defeated the Rays 12-4. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 15, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Tampa Bay Rays ball cap and glove during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers defeated the Rays 12-4. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) reacts during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) reacts during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

An ace in the Wild Card Game

Tampa Bay has an advantage that only a couple of other teams in the Wild Card race share: it can turn to a true to a true ace every five days who will give the team a chance to win every time out.

Archer has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season and is on the fringe of A.L. Cy Young contention. The 26-year old has posted a 2.78 ERA (2.57 FIP) over 181 innings, with a strikeout rate of 30.8 percent that ranks behind only Clayton Kershaw and Chris Sale in the Majors.

While the potential has always been there for Archer to reach an elite level and he turned in very good seasons over the past two years, 2015 has been a definite step forward. The key has been his slider, which ranks among the most un-hittable pitches in baseball.

Archer is throwing his slider nearly 10 percent more and two miles per hour faster than in 2014. With sharp curveball-like action at 90 miles per hour, Archer can use his slider to set up his other pitches effectively.

The Rays need Archer at his best over the final month, as they have multiple series against the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays remaining.  There’s no guarantee that Tampa Bay will be able to set its rotation should they reach the Wild Card game, but there aren’t too many pitchers you would want more than Archer for a one-game playoff.

Next: Solid rotation

Home/MLB