Wacha did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Tigers, allowing two runs on seven hits and no walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.
The 33-year-old looked sharper in this 89-pitch performance, generating an impressive 14 whiffs while scattering seven singles. The Tigers plated both runs against Wacha in a four-hit fifth inning. Despite not completing six innings in any outing to qualify for a quality start this season, Wacha has been respectable, pitching to a 4.15 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 20:10 K:BB across 26 innings. He is currently scheduled to draw his next start against the Astros at home next weekend.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Fades in loss
Rotowire
Wacha (0-3) took the loss against the Yankees on Tuesday. He allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four across 5.2 innings.
Wacha was in control for most of his outing and entered the sixth inning without having allowed a run. He was lifted after giving up a single and two walks and was tagged with three of the Yankees' four runs after Angel Zerpa followed up a bases-loaded walk by yielding a three-run double to Jasson Dominguez. Wacha has taken the loss in three of his first four starts of the season while registering a 4.35 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 15:10 K:BB across 20.2 innings. The 33-year-old right-hander is slated to face the Tigers on the road this weekend, when he'll look to earn his first win of 2025.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: No-decision vs. Twins
Rotowire
Wacha did not factor into the decision Thursday against Minnesota, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out four.
Wacha was solid Thursday, holding the Twins to one run on a Ty France homer through five innings before the Royals' bullpen allowed an inherited runner to score after Wacha was pulled in the sixth. While it wasn't an ideal finish, it was a step in the right direction for Wacha, who had lost his first two starts this season, allowing five runs on 10 hits and five walks over 9.2 innings. The veteran right-hander currently lines up for a tough road matchup versus the Yankees in his next outing.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Takes second loss
Rotowire
Wacha (0-2) allowed four earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out five across 5.2 innings to take the loss Saturday against the Orioles.
Wacha worked through five innings fairly effectively, giving up only two earned runs in the second frame. However, he allowed a pair of hitters to reach base in the sixth inning before being pulled and suffered from an inflated line after both came around to score. Positively, Wacha was much sharper than his first start of the season when he walked four over just four innings.
Wacha (0-1) yielded a run on four hits and four walks over four innings Sunday, striking out two and taking a loss against Cleveland.
The lone run against Wacha came in the second inning when Carlos Santana knocked a leadoff double and came around to score on Gabriel Arias' sacrifice fly. Wacha worked around a couple of other sticky situations but ultimately needed 87 pitches (52 strikes) to work through four frames. He walked four or more batters just twice out of his 29 regular-season starts in 2024. Wacha will look for better results in his next outing, which is projected to be at home against Baltimore.
Wacha gave up three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk in Friday's spring start against the Angels. He has a 12.38 ERA with a 10:3 K:BB in eight innings this spring.
There shouldn't be much worry about Wacha's poor spring numbers since he's a veteran with a secure spot in the rotation. He still has a strong 10 strikeouts in eight innings. Wacha has been a quality source for ERA and WHIP three years running, and he returns to a pretty good situation after re-upping with Kansas City on a multi-year deal.
Wacha agreed to a three-year, $51 million contract with the Royals on Sunday that includes a $14 million club option for 2028, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The right-hander was expected to decline his $16 million player option for 2025, but Kansas City utilized the exclusive five-day negotiating window after the World Series to secure a new deal. Wacha was a key rotation piece for the Royals during their 2024 resurgence with a 3.35 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 145:45 K:BB over 166.2 innings.
Wacha will start Thursday in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Yankees, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Wacha had a rough outing in Game 1 on Saturday, allowing three earned runs on four hits and three walks over four innings en route to a loss. The 33-year-old righty is no stranger to poor postseason performances, as he owns a 5.36 ERA over 42 innings across nine playoff appearances in his career.
