Pittsburgh Pirates to shut down Chris Archer for rest of season

With nothing to play for this season, the Pittsburgh Pirates have shut down their nominal ace for the rest of the 2019 season.

When the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Chris Archer at the 2018 MLB trade deadline, the hope was that he would be able to lead the team back to the postseason in 2019. Instead, after hovering around the .500 mark through the All Star break, the Pirates plummetted down the standings. At this point, they are looking to next year once again.

With the hopes of contention fresh in their mind for 2020, the Pirates have made a decision. Archer has been shut down for the rest of the 2019 campaign, with the hope that he will rebound next year.

This season has been a disappointment, not just for the Pirates, but for Archer as well. Expected to be the staff ace, he produced a miserable 3-9 record, with a 5.19 ERA and a 1.412 WHiP. Although his 143 strikeouts in 119.2 innings were impressive, Archer also issued 55 walks for a career worst 4.1 BB/9 rate.

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2019 had been a lost season for Archer beyond his abysmal statistical showing. He missed just over two weeks at the start of the season with thumb irritation, and was placed on the Injured List on August 21 with shoulder discomfort.

Archer will always be looked at upon the backdrop of the Rays return. Austin Meadows has become a key part of the Tampa Bay lineup, belting 30 homers as he made his first All Star team. Tyler Glasnow finally began to live up to his potential as a top of the rotation arm before being injured. Even prospect Shane Baz took a major step forward, and could be a consensus top 100 prospect at the start of the coming season.

In theory, that was a worthwhile price to pay. Archer was considered a top of the rotation starter, and as he is under team control for two more years, was expected to be the missing piece. Instead, he has been just another disappointment on a team that has been filled with them in 2019. Perhaps being shut down for the rest of the year will allow Archer to get healthy, clear his head, and return to being the ace he had been.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are shutting Chris Archer down for the rest of 2019. Maybe this move will allow him to get back to being the pitcher they hoped for next year.