SEATTLE -- The Tampa Bay Rays could be down to two healthy starting pitchers as they await more news on Chris Archer, who is nursing a sore groin following his start vs. the Mariners on Saturday.
Archer (3-4, 4.24 ERA) met with reporters before Sunday's series finale and said his next start is "questionable." The right-hander will meet with a specialist when the team arrives in Washington, D.C. on Monday to figure out his plan of action.
"Obviously it hurts because the only thing I will take pride in and have an ego about is pitching once every five days," Archer said. "Regardless of the results, I want to be there for my team, so I'm going to do everything I can to be out there, but not do anything silly to overexert myself."
Archer labored through five innings Saturday, allowing two runs on seven hits in a 3-1 loss. In May he made six starts, lasting at least six innings in all of them.
Blake Snell and Nathan Eovaldi remain the only healthy starters on the Rays' pitching staff. Tampa Bay has used "openers" from the bullpen to fill out the rest of the starting rotation. Sergio Romo has been the most frequently used in the role, making five starts since May 19.
Despite the lack of depth in their rotation, Rays manager Kevin Cash said he isn't concerned if Archer misses his next scheduled start.
"He knows his body better much better than I do," Cash said. "I don't know how he's feeling but I'm not overly concerned. I think this is a good time to give him a little break, so if we head in that direction we will do that."