There was a time when Chris Archer appeared destined for fantasy stardom. Back in 2015, the then 26-year-old finished fifth in American League Cy Young voting, posting a 3.23 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 252 strikeouts in 212 innings. Archer’s production dipped the following two seasons with a combined 4.05 ERA and 19–31 record in 67 starts, but his value remained steady. Archer fanned more than 230 batters and threw more than 200 innings in consecutive seasons. No pitcher logged more starts than Archer’s 133 from 2014-17.
The heavy workload could explain Archer’s struggles in Pittsburgh. A 2018 deadline trade has thus far proved disastrous for the Pirates, with Austin Meadows and the now-injured Tyler Glasnow shining in Tampa Bay while Archer surrenders homer after homer into the Allegheny.