24 Chris Archer SP

Archer was removed from Monday's start against the Braves after the fourth inning due to discomfort in his left leg, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The training staff came out to check on him, and while he stayed in the game briefly after that, he did not go back out for the fifth inning. He wasn't very efficient, needing 76 pitches (50 strikes) to get through four frames, but was able to limit the damage to one run on five hits and one walk while striking out three. He left with the Pirates trailing 1-0. The Pirates say his removal was a precaution, and he should be considered questionable for Sunday's scheduled start in Milwaukee.

Archer didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Twins, allowing four runs on six hits in five innings. He struck out seven.

Archer was dialed in for most of the outing but couldn't quite piece it together, tossing four perfect innings but giving up four runs on six hits in the second and sixth frames (while failing to record an out in the sixth). He's had an inefficient start to his Pirates tenure, tossing at least 95 pitches in each of his first three starts for Pittsburgh but lasting no more than five innings in any outing. The 29-year-old will carry a 4.49 ERA into his next start, which will come at home against the Braves on Monday.

Archer surrendered five runs (four earned) on seven hits and four walks while fanning six across 4.1 innings but didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Cardinals.

Archer gave up a leadoff home run to start his day, and he never really settled down after that. Despite this, he exited the game with a one-run lead after tossing 95 pitches (57 strikes). The 29-year-old right-hander hasn't been himself over his previous three appearances, as he's allowed 10 runs through 16.1 innings while recording 22 punchouts. Archer will look to bounce back in his next start, which is slated for Wednesday against Colorado.

Archer will take the mound versus St. Louis on Friday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

The Bucs weren't listing Archer for this weekend in their game notes, per Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic, but Archer will indeed slide into the Pirates' rotation for the series opener against the Cardinals. He will be pitching on six days' rest after throwing against Baltimore on Friday while he was still a member of the Rays. Due to this shift, Ivan Nova and Trevor Williams will be pushed back to Saturday and Sunday, respectively, while Joe Musgrove is in line for Monday's game in Colorado.

Archer is not in line to face the Cardinals this weekend, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

It was expected that Archer would take the hill during Pittsburgh's three-game set versus St. Louis since his last start with the Rays came Friday. At the moment, it appears as though his Pirates' debut will come in Colorado on Monday, since the club is listing Ivan Nova, Trevor Williams and Joe Musgrove as the pitchers this weekend. Through 17 starts with Tampa Bay, he logged a 4.31 ERA and 9.6 K/9.