No AL rookie pitcher in the past 92 seasons had a better July than Chris Archer.
The right-hander goes for a fifth consecutive winning start Friday night when the Rays continue their push for the AL East lead with the San Francisco Giants making their second-ever visit.
Archer (6-3, 2.39 ERA) enjoyed a historic July, going 4-0 with a 0.73 ERA in five starts after throwing a two-hitter in Saturday's 1-0 road win over the Yankees. Since 1921, that is the lowest ERA by any AL rookie in July.
"Right now, it's a combination of me being myself and the information that (pitching coach Jim) Hickey gives me," Archer, who has two shutouts in his last three starts, told the Rays' official website. "He tells me what the go-to pitch is for certain hitters. Otherwise, he wants me to pitch to my strengths."
The right-hander goes for a fifth consecutive winning start Friday night when the Rays continue their push for the AL East lead with the San Francisco Giants making their second-ever visit.
Archer (6-3, 2.39 ERA) enjoyed a historic July, going 4-0 with a 0.73 ERA in five starts after throwing a two-hitter in Saturday's 1-0 road win over the Yankees. Since 1921, that is the lowest ERA by any AL rookie in July.
"Right now, it's a combination of me being myself and the information that (pitching coach Jim) Hickey gives me," Archer, who has two shutouts in his last three starts, told the Rays' official website. "He tells me what the go-to pitch is for certain hitters. Otherwise, he wants me to pitch to my strengths."