Michael

Wacha

Wacha ends the year 10-13 with a 3.86 ERA in a career-high 172 2/3 innings. His career-low 17.6% strikeout rate wouldn’t seem to bode well going forward, but this makes four straight years as at least a slightly above average starting pitcher. He has about 12 bWAR since he turned 30, compared to 8.1 bWAR in nine seasons from ages 21-29.

Wacha gave up eight hits, walked one and struck out four. The 34-year-old right-hander has allowed 13 runs in his last two starts combined. Wacha has seen his ERA rise to 4.00 and has a 121/42 K/BB ratio in 166 2/3 innings this year. Wacha is lined up to face the Athletics on the road next weekend.

Wacha pretty obviously did not have his best stuff tonight in his return from the concussion IL. With his velocity down nearly one mph, he got just one missed swing and gave up 10 hard-hit balls in the 47-pitch outing. Assuming that he feels okay, he’ll probably start again Sunday against the Blue Jays, though he’ll be a tough play in mixed leagues.

Wacha was hurt in an off-the-field accident last week. He’ll be pitching on 10 days’ rest tonight against the Mariners.

Wacha was scheduled to start Wdnesday’s series finale against the Guardians. That’s no longer happening after he suffered a head injury in a minor off-field accident. The veteran hurler will head back to Kansas City to undergo further evaluation. There should be an update on his potential return timeline at some point in the coming days.

Wacha gave up four hits, walked two and struck out five. The 34-year-old right-hander has allowed two runs or less in eight of his last 10 starts. Wacha has a 3.45 ERA and 117/41 K/BB ratio in 159 innings this year. He’s lined up to face the Guardians on the road next week.

All of the runs scored in the fifth, with the first two coming on Jake Rogers’ triple to center. That was a 411-foot blast that would have been a homer in 21 ballparks, according to Statcast. In Kauffman, though, it really should have been caught and probably would have been with Kyle Isbel in center. Tyler Tolbert, getting the start against a lefty, took a terrible route and the ball ended up dropping just shy of the wall. Wacha is now 8-11 with a 3.52 ERA. He’ll face the Twins next.

Wacha returns from paternity leave to take the ball on Sunday afternoon against the division-leading Tigers. The 34-year-old veteran right-hander has pitched extremely well this season with a strong 3.39 ERA across 148 2/3 innings (26 starts).

Wacha was scheduled to start Friday’s game against the Tigers, but he’ll take care of something more important than baseball instead. Stephen Kolek will be up to take Wacha’s spot on the roster and in the rotation. The 34-year-old should be back to start for Kansas City early next week.

Wacha surrendered a run on a single and a double in the third, then gave up a solo home run to Spencer Torkelson in the fourth. Two more hits plated a third run in the fifth. Wacha would toss one more scoreless frame, ending his day after six with four strikeouts. The 34-year-old right-hander will take a 3.39 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 108/38 K/BB ratio across 148 2/3 innings into a rematch against the Tigers in Kansas City on Friday.