Wacha (12-7) allowed four hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings Sunday, striking out seven and earning a win over Minnesota.
Wacha escaped some danger in the first inning but didn't allow a runner to reach scoring position for the rest of his outing. He got right back in the win column after taking his first loss in over two months in his last start. Wacha forced 16 whiffs, the second-highest total he's produced this season. Of those 16, 12 came via the changeup. Wacha dropped his season ERA to 3.34 with a 130:40 K:BB through 151 innings. His next outing is projected to be in Pittsburgh.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Picks up first loss since June
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Wacha (11-7) allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out three over five innings, taking the loss Monday versus the Guardians.
Wacha allowed just one hit through the first four innings but ran into trouble in the fifth, giving up four hits, including a two-run homer to Lane Thomas. Wacha picked up his first loss since June 22, and he went 7-0 with a 2.86 ERA during that 11-start stretch. The 33-year-old remains a steady presence in the middle of the Royals rotation with a 3.50 ERA through 144 innings this season.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Falls apart late in no-decision
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Wacha came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's loss to the Guardians, allowing five earned runs on nine hits while striking out seven in six-plus innings. He did not issue a walk.
Wacha allowed just two runs over the first six innings and was on pace to record his sixth consecutive quality start, but a three-run seventh inning soured an otherwise efficient outing. Bo Naylor led off the seventh with a solo home run before back-to-back singles by Steven Kwan and Andres Gimenez chased Wacha from the game. Both of those runners came around to score to give Wacha five earned runs on the night, the most he has allowed since May 4. Wednesday's outing represents a minor blemish in what has been an excellent campaign for the veteran, particularly since the All-Star break. Since the intermission, the 33-year-old is a perfect 5-0 with a 2.90 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 42:11 K:BB in 49.2 innings (eight starts). He is scheduled for a rematch against Cleveland early next week.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Quality start streak at five
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Wacha (11-6) picked up the win Friday, giving up two runs on six hits over six innings in a 7-4 victory over the Phillies. He struck out five without walking a batter.
The veteran right-hander was sharp once again, tossing 64 of 94 pitches for strikes en route to his fifth straight quality start and 13th of the season -- his highest total since 2017. Wacha also hasn't been stuck with a loss since June 22, winning seven straight decisions with a 2.40 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 52:17 K:BB over 60 innings since then. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Cleveland.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Cruises to 10th victory
Rotowire
Wacha (10-6) earned the win over Cincinnati on Saturday, allowing four hits and issuing one walk while striking out nine batters over six scoreless innings.
The Royals built a 10-run lead through three frames, so Wacha didn't face much pressure in the contest. Still, he didn't let down his guard, yielding just four hits -- all of which were singles -- while tossing six scoreless frames for his fourth consecutive quality start. Wacha's nine punchouts were a season high, and he reached the double-digit win mark for the fifth time in his 12-year career.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Improves to 9-6
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Wacha (9-6) earned the win over St. Louis on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six batters over seven innings.
Wacha served up a two-run homer to Paul Goldschmidt in the second inning but blanked the Cardinals from that point on. The veteran hurler notched 15 whiffs and tossed 62 of 92 pitches for strikes in the efficient outing, and he finished with his third straight quality start. Wacha has been very consistent for three-plus months, as he hasn't allowed more than three earned runs over his past 14 starts dating back to May 4. He owns a 2.59 ERA and an 8-2 record during that stretch.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Turns in quality start
Rotowire
Wacha did not factor into the decision after allowing two runs on seven hits and four walks over six innings against the Tigers on Sunday. He struck out two batters in the win.
Wacha struggled with his command and threw only 58 of 99 pitches for strikes. The four walks were the second most he's issued in a start this season behind only his May 9 outing against the Angels. Since the beginning of July, Wacha has produced four quality starts in six outings, going 4-0 with a 2.78 ERA in the process. For the year, his ERA sits at 3.55 with a 93:35 K:BB through 20 starts. Wacha's next outing is projected to be at home against the Cardinals.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Hangs on for eighth win
Rotowire
Wacha (8-6) picked up the win Tuesday, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings in a 4-3 victory over the White Sox. He struck out five.
The veteran right-hander delivered his ninth quality start of the season on 89 pitches (57 strikes), but Wacha actually left the mound with the Royals down 2-1 before the offense put up a three spot in the top of the eighth to make him a winner. He incredibly hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in a start since May 4, posting a 2.56 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 60:21 K:BB through 70.1 innings over his last 12 outings despite missing most of June with a foot fracture. Wacha will look to keep rolling in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Red Sox.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Allows three homers
Rotowire
Wacha did not factor into the decision in a loss to the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, allowing three hits on six hits and one walk over 4.2 innings while striking out one.
Wacha didn't have his best stuff Wednesday, surrendering a solo homer to Eugenio Suarez in the second inning and later giving up another two long balls, back-to-back, in the fourth to put Kansas City at a 3-1 deficit. The three home runs allowed marked a season high for the veteran right-hander, while the one strikeout was also his lowest total of the campaign. Wacha had gone at least five innings in 10 consecutive starts heading into Wednesday's matchup.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Cruises to easy win
Rotowire
Wacha (7-6) allowed four hits and a walk over seven shutout frames Friday, striking out seven and earning a win over the White Sox.
Wacha gave up a leadoff double on the second pitch of the game but allowed just one other runner to reach scoring position during his outing. He retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced. Since giving up seven runs to the Rangers on May 4, Wacha hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any start. During that 10-game stretch, he's 6-2 with a 2.30 ERA. Wacha dropped his season ERA down to 3.55 with an 85:28 K:BB through 96.1 innings. His next start is projected to be at home against the Diamondbacks.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Nabs win Wednesday in Game 2
Rotowire
Wacha (6-6) earned the win over the Cardinals in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out three batters over five innings.
It wasn't a smooth outing for Wacha, as he tossed only one 1-2-3 inning and needed 84 pitches to get through five frames. Kansas City's offense gave him ample support, but the right-hander nearly lost his chance at a victory when he gave up two runs in the bottom of the fifth to allow St. Louis to close the gap to 5-4. The three earned runs were the most Wacha has allowed since May 4 -- over his previous eight starts, he had posted a 2.31 ERA and 1.03 WHIP across 46.2 frames. Wacha's overall 3.83 ERA puts him on pace to log a third straight season with a sub-4.00 earned run average.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Royals-Cardinals postponed
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Wacha and the Royals won't play the Cardinals on Tuesday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather.
The game will be made up as a split doubleheader Wednesday. Wacha should start one of those contests, and Wednesday's originally scheduled starter, Alec Marsh, is likely to start the other contest.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Picks up fifth win
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Wacha (5-6) earned the win Wednesday over the Rays, allowing one run on two hits and three walks while striking out eight over six innings.
Wacha gave up a first-inning home run to Isaac Paredes and settled in from there with another excellent start. He's now allowed two or fewer earned runs in eight straight starts and matched his season high with eight strikeouts. Wacha owns a 3.74 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 75:26 K:BB in 84.1 innings and lines up for a road start against the Cardinals next week.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Stuck with no-decision
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Wacha did not factor into the decision in a win over the Guardians on Thursday, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out six.
Wacha loaded the bases in the second inning after walking two batters and hitting another one with a pitch, but the right-hander was able to work his way out of the jam and didn't surrender a run until the fifth when Daniel Schneemann got him for a sacrifice fly. Wacha has gotten little offensive support of late, failing to walk away with a win for the fourth consecutive start despite allowing two or fewer runs in each of those outings. Wacha actually hasn't surrendered more than two runs in seven straight starts, and he lowered his ERA to 3.91 with Thursday's performance.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Outdueled in return
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Wacha (4-6) took the loss Saturday as the Royals were blanked 6-0 by the Rangers, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out five.
Making his first start in June after recovering from a foot fracture, Wacha was sharp over 74 pitches (52 strikes) but had no margin for error, and a Josh Smith solo shot in the fourth inning tagged him with the loss. The veteran right-hander has given up two earned runs or less in six straight outings dating back to May 9, posting a 2.55 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB through 35.1 innings over that stretch. Wacha will look to get back in the win column in his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Guardians.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Reinstated from IL
Rotowire
The Royals reinstated Wacha (foot) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start against the Rangers on Saturday.
Wacha was placed on the injured list June 2 due to a non-displaced left foot fracture he sustained on a comebacker against the Padres on May 31. He made a rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Monday, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out six over four scoreless innings. To make room for Wacha, right-hander Steven Cruz was optioned to Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Looks good in rehab start
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Wacha (foot) struck out six and gave up two hits and no walks over four scoreless innings in his rehab start Monday with the Royals' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said prior to the outing that Wacha might need just the one rehab start before returning from the 15-day injured list and rejoining the major-league rotation this weekend against the Rangers. Given how well he pitched, Wacha looks to be a good bet to be activated this weekend, either on Saturday or Sunday. He's been sidelined since early June with a non-displaced left foot fracture.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Tosses sim game
Rotowire
Wacha (foot) completed a three-inning simulated game Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The Royals will wait and see how Wacha feels Friday following the sim game before deciding on his next steps, but the right-hander will most likely head out on a minor-league rehab assignment if he's not feeling any renewed discomfort in his fractured left foot. If Wacha is cleared to make a rehab start Monday or Tuesday, he could be an option to return from the 15-day injured list and slot back into the Kansas City rotation next weekend.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Scheduled for bullpen session
Rotowire
Wacha (foot) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
It will be the first time Wacha has thrown off a mound since he suffered a non-displaced left foot fracture back on May 31 when he was hit by a comebacker. The hope is that he will be able to rejoin the Royals' rotation before the end of the month, but he still has some steps to take in his progression and might need a rehab start.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Could return in less than one month
Rotowire
The Royals are hopeful that Wacha, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a small, non-displaced fracture in his left foot, will be able to rejoin the active roster in 3-to-4 weeks, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.
Though he's without an official timeline for a return, Wacha at least looks poised to avoid surgery to address the injury, which he sustained when he was hit by a line drive in the first inning of his start Friday against the Padres. According to MLB.com, Wacha will be able to play catch on a knee to help keep his arm conditioned, but a firmer target date won't come into focus until the soreness in his fractured foot subsides and he's able to put full weight on the leg when he throws. He'll be limited to light catch for the next 7-to-10 days before potentially increasing his baseball activities after that, according to Goldberg.
