Tampa Bay Rays place Chris Archer on the disabled list, recall Diego Castillo

The Tampa Bay Rays have placed right-handed pitcher, Chris Archer, on the 10-day disabled list — retroactive to June 3rd — with a strained abdominal. In his place, the promoted one of their most exciting arms in Durham, right handed pitcher, Diego Castillo.

Archer has been the ace of the Rays staff the past few seasons, serving as the most dependable arm in the rotation. He has reached 200 innings pitched and started in at least 33 games the past three years.

It was a battle earlier in the season for Archer, but he has since turned it around. Since the start of May, Archer has an ERA of 2.47 with a 3.35 FIP, becoming a much more effective pitcher for the Rays.

Diego Castillo has quietly been one of the most anticipated pitching prospects in the Rays system. He possesses a devastating slider that has put him in the closer role at each stop along his way to the top of the Rays system. He finally pushed his way onto the Rays top prospect list following the 2017 season, as Baseball America named him the team’s 29th best prospect.

Castillo is a classic fastball/slider, high-effort reliever who has touched 101 mph with his four-seamer. He generates a lot of ground balls but tends to give up a fair number of hits when hitters start making contact. Castillo has good overall control and command, but gets in trouble when he overthrows, reducing the movement on his pitches

The Rays starting rotation is now in shambles with Jake Faria and Chris Archer on the disabled list. The team will rely on Blake Snell and Nate Eovaldi to help carry them, as well as whoever will be starting on the bullpen days.