Royals' Michael Wacha: Strikes out five in five frames
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Wacha earned a no-decision after throwing five innings, alllowing one run on two hits and three walks while striking out five, during Friday's 8-3 loss to the Mets.
After allowing 21 hits combined over his last three starts spanning 15 innings, Wacha surrendered just two hits and one run in his five innings against the Mets. It's the seventh time the 34-year-old has surrendered one run or fewer in his 19 starts, and he'll enter the All-Star break on a high note. He ends the first half with a 3.74 ERA,1.27 WHIP and a 84:33 K:BB in 106.0 innings
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Handed third straight loss
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Wacha (4-9) was charged with the loss Saturday in Arizona after allowing four runs on four hits and four walks across four innings. He struck out four.
The veteran right-hander had a 2.88 ERA at the end of May, but after Saturday's showing he now has a 1-5 record with a 5.85 ERA in six starts since the beginning of June. That poor run of form has inflated his season-long numbers to a 3.83 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 79:30 K:BB across 101 innings, with those ERA and WHIP figures being his worst since 2021. He lines up to make one more start before the All-Star break next weekend versus the Mets.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Falters in loss to Mariners
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Wacha (4-8) allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out one over five innings to take the loss on Monday versus the Mariners.
Wacha didn't get much support in the contest, which saw him take the loss for the fourth time in five starts in June. His last two outings had been quality starts, and he ended the month with 17 runs allowed over 28.1 innings. The veteran right-hander is now at a 3.62 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 75:26 K:BB through 97 innings over 17 starts this season. He's projected for a road start in Arizona his next time out.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Season-high nine Ks in seventh loss
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Wacha (4-7) was saddled with the loss Wednesday against the Rays, giving up three runs on nine hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out nine.
Wacha brought some of his best swing-and-miss stuff to the mound, registering 19 whiffs en route to fanning a season-high nine in his eighth quality start of the year. The veteran right-hander poured in 65 of his 93 pitches for strikes, but he also matched a season worst in hits allowed. Through 92 frames on the campaign, Wacha holds a 3.33 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 74:24 K:BB. His next appearance is slated for next week at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park against the Mariners, who have a poor .634 OPS at home since the start of May.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Limits Rangers to one run
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Wacha (4-6) came away with the win against Texas on Thursday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out five across six innings.
Wacha faced the minimum number of batters in three of the six innings he pitched, and he kept the Rangers off the board until the sixth, when he yielded an RBI double to Marcus Semien. Thursday marked Wacha's seventh quality start of the season (three of which have come over his last four outings) and his 3.24 ERA (across 86 innings) is 16th best among qualified starters in the American League. He's lined up to face Tampa Bay at home next week.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Strafed by A's
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Wacha (3-6) took the loss Friday, giving up five runs on nine hits and two walks over 5.1 innings as the Royals fell 6-4 to the A's. He struck out five.
The right-hander kept things close through five innings despite serving up solo shots to Austin Wynns and Luis Urias amid a barrage of singles, but Wacha gave up two more knocks with one out in the sixth and watched both runners come around to score after he'd gotten the hook. Wacha has gone five straight starts without getting into the win column, but his 4.13 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 23:5 K:BB through 28.1 innings during that stretch suggest the issue has more to do with the Royals' offense than his own performance. He'll look to end that drought in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week against the Rangers.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Takes loss despite quality start
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Wacha (3-5) took the loss against the White Sox on Saturday, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out five batters over six innings.
Wacha gave up a two-run homer in the second inning and a solo shot in the third, accounting for all of the runs against him. He was otherwise fine, racking up 12 whiffs and throwing 64 of 95 pitches for strikes, but the right-hander got only one run of support as he fell to 3-5. Wacha did manage to notch his second straight quality start and his sixth overall this season, and he's been a steady part of Kansas City's rotation with a 3.01 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 55:19 K:BB across 74.2 frames.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Loses no-hitter in seventh
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Wacha did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Tigers, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out six across seven scoreless innings.
Wacha was locked into a fierce duel with Tigers ace Tarik Skubal on Saturday. Wacha retired 19 of the first 20 batters he faced, but he saw his no-hit bid come to an end in the seventh on a Colt Keith single to center field. Wacha managed to close out the inning without allowing another baserunner, finishing with his fifth quality start and third outing this season in which he yielded zero runs. He has a 2.88 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 50:18 K:BB across 68.2 innings this season. Wacha is lined up to face the White Sox on the road next weekend.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Stung by long ball
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Wacha came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Twins, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk over five-plus innings. He struck out one.
The veteran right-hander served up solo shots to Harrison Bader in the fifth inning and Kody Clemens to lead off the sixth, the first time this season that Wacha has been taken deep multiple times in the same game. The four earned runs also tied his season high, while the single K was a season low. Wacha will take a 3.21 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 44:17 K:BB through 61.2 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Tigers.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Stuck with no-decision
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Wacha did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 2-1 win against St. Louis, allowing one run on eight hits and no walks over five innings. He struck out six.
The 33-year-old looked sharp once again in this 83-pitch performance against one of his former clubs. Over his last eight outings, Wacha has conceded three or fewer runs in each while firing a 2.49 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 47 innings. The only damage on the veteran right-hander's day happened on a 430-foot solo shot by Alec Burleson in the fourth. Wacha currently lines up to make his next start at Minnesota next weekend.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Tallies third win
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Wacha (3-4) earned the win Monday at Houston, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out three.
The veteran right-hander limited damage in this 88-pitch performance, scattering six singles and two doubles while generating only six whiffs. Wacha collected his fourth consecutive quality start, as he's pitched to a 1.75 ERA, 1.09 WHIP across 25.2 innings during that span. Through 51.2 total frames, the 33-year-old sports a 2.96 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 37:16 K:BB. He is currently slated to make his next start against one of his former teams, the Cardinals, at home this weekend.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Seven shutout innings in second win
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Wacha (2-4) grabbed the win Wednesday against the White Sox after allowing three hits and one walk in seven scoreless innings. He struck out five.
It was one of the finest efforts of the season for Wacha, who tossed a season-high seven innings. While the right-hander has fanned more than five just once among his eight starts, Wednesday marked his third straight quality start and second scoreless outing during this stretch. Despite his lack of overpowering stuff, Wacha has surrendered just two home runs this season. He boasts a 2.98 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 34:14 K:BB over 45.1 innings ahead of his next scheduled appearance, which tentatively lines up against the Astros next week.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Yields three runs in seventh inning
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Wacha (1-4) took the loss against the Orioles on Friday, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out three over 6.1 innings.
Wacha faced the minimum number of batters in four of his first six scoreless innings, but things unravelled in the seventh. After giving up a double, Wacha lost his shutout bid on a Ryan O'Hearn two-run home run, and the former was tagged for a third run later in the frame. It was a disappointing finish to what was otherwise a strong performance for Wacha, who has logged two quality starts in a row. He's in line to face the White Sox at home next week.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Twirls six shutout innings
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Wacha (1-3) earned the win Saturday over the Astros, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out six over six shutout innings.
This was Wacha's best start of the campaign so far, with six innings and six strikeouts both being season highs. He walked multiple batters for the fourth time in six starts but didn't allow a runner to get past second base en route to his first win of the season. Wacha has pitched pretty well, posting a 3.38 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 26:12 K:BB across 32 over six starts. His 3.4 BB/9 is elevated compared to recent seasons -- he posted a 2.4 BB/9 last year and his highest in the last four years is the 2.9 mark he had in 2023 with the Padres. If he can get that area under control, Wacha should again be an even more reliable innings eater in the middle of the Royals' rotation. The right-hander's next start is projected to be at Baltimore.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Five Ks in no-decision
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Poor numbers this spring
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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.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Inks new deal with Royals
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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.
