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Sometimes, staying in the same place for too long can have adverse effects on your life.

You start to lose focus (or hair), stress eats you alive (or you eat your feelings), or negativity starts to sink in as you go through the same pattern day in and day out, year after year.

A vacation is needed. A change of scenery will help you reboot, recharge and reinvigorate yourself to perform at levels you are used to.

Chris Archer has been desperate for a change of scenery … for a LONG TIME!

Archer, who was dealt to the Pirates and made his debut Friday night against the Cardinals, was 3-5 with a 4.31 ERA and a career-high 1.385 WHIP in 17 starts for the Rays. He is striking out 9.6 per nine innings (his lowest total since 2014), walking 2.9 per nine innings and has a career-high swinging strike percentage (13.6). This came after he went 19-31 with a 4.05 ERA over the last two disappointing seasons (even if he was striking out more than a batter per inning).

While he may have disappointed in the past, and the beginning of this season looked like it would be more of the same, Archer has been pretty good recently.

Though he won only one of his past eight starts, Archer allowed just 13 earned runs over his past 43 1/3***** innings (2.70 ERA) while striking out 50. Since May 1, he has allowed an opponent to score three earned runs or more in just four of his 11 starts in that span while maintaining a 3.13 ERA. His 3.62 FIP and xFIP, as well as his .343 BaBIP, indicate he has been a bit unlucky (hey, he was on a team in a division where they’ve merely been a punching bag for the Yankees and Red Sox).

There are other factors that lead Roto Rage to believe Archer’s move to pitcher-friendly PNC Park is the perfect remedy for all that has ailed the 29-year-old who went an underwhelming 54-68 with a 3.69 ERA and 1,146 strikeouts in his time with the Rays.

Archer has already had success against the National League, going 6-9 with a 3.29 ERA and 1.135 WHIP in 21 interleague starts. He held opponents to a .229 average and .635 OPS while striking out 10.5 per nine and walking just 2.5 per nine.

Archer will work with Pirates pitching guru Ray Searage, who has a history of working well with veterans (even if calling Archer a vet seems weird since he’s only 29). Pitchers such as Francisco Liriano, A.J. Burnett, Ivan Nova, Edinson Volquez and J.A. Happ (pre-hand, foot and mouth disease) all became viable fantasy options under his tutelage.

Fantasy owners should just hope Searage doesn’t make Archer use his fastball more, as opponents are hitting .315 against his four-seamer. He has been far more effective with his changeup (.217) and slider (.254).

There is also motivation to pitch in the playoffs, something Archer hasn’t done since pitching 1 2/3 innings in the ALDS in 2013. The Pirates entered Friday just four games out of a wild-card spot.

Probably the biggest reason to love the move to Pittsburgh (besides getting to face pitchers): He finally gets out of the AL East. While he is 7-4 with a 3.01 ERA against Toronto, he was 6-10 with a 5.07 ERA against the Orioles, 6-7 with a 3.14 ERA against the Yankees, and 2-12 with a 5.27 ERA against Boston.

Assuming he remains healthy and the Pirates don’t mess with the rotation, Archer will make 10 more starts. He could face three teams that have never seen him before, including the Braves, Reds (twice) and Brewers (twice). He is also in line to face the Rockies (1-0, 3.00, 11 Ks), Cubs (1-1, 3.00, 20 Ks) and the Cardinals again (1.29 ERA in one start before Friday). He may also square off against two AL teams, the Twins (6-1, 1.96 ERA, 59 Ks) and the Royals (1-4, 4.50).

Archer has a chance to be the pitcher fantasy owners saw from 2013-15, when he went 31-29 with a 3.26 ERA. This change was necessary, and it should bring new life and new hope for a pitcher who was in desperate need of it.

Big Hits

Masahiro Tanaka, SP, Yankees
Has not lost a decision since April 17, going 7-0 with a 3.20 ERA, 77 strikeouts and a .202 opponent average. He is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 17 strikeouts and a .125 opponent average over his last two starts.

Salvador Perez, C, Royals
Raised his average from an unsightly .213 to an ugly .234 over his past 18 games after going 23-for-75 (.307) with seven homers, 19 RBIs and a .969 OPS.

Carlos Carrasco, SP, Indians
In his first six appearances since returning from the DL on July 6, he was 5-0 with a 1.99 ERA, 42 strikeouts, four walks and .241 opponent average.

Daniel Murphy, 2B, Nationals
He’s heating up, as he had at least one hit in 15 of his past 19 games, going 24-for-59 (.407) with three homers, 15 RBIs, a stolen base and a 1.098 OPS.

Big Whiffs

Yuli GurrielGetty ImagesYuli GurrielGetty Images

Yuli Gurriel, 1B, Astros
Entered Friday night with just six hits in his first 47 at-bats (.128) in his first 11 games after the break. He has no homers, two RBIs, one run, four strikeouts and a .271 OPS in that span.

Shane Bieber, SP, Indians
Allowed 21 earned runs over five starts (27 innings) last month while going 2-2 with a 7.00 ERA, 24 strikeouts, six walks and a .315 opponent average.

Nick Castellanos, 3B/OF, Tigers
His average has plummeted from .308 to .286 over his last 12 games after going 5-for-46 (.109) with no homers, two RBIs, 16 strikeouts and a .341 OPS.

Reynaldo Lopez, SP, White Sox
He pitched well against the Royals on Thursday, but he is still 0-4 with a 7.22 ERA, 15 walks and a .283 opponent average in his past five starts.

Check Swings

  • Crazy run production alert: Khris Davis had at least one RBI in 10 out of 14 games since the All-Star break. In that span, he hit .302 with eight homers, 20 RBIs, 11 runs and a 1.163 OPS.
  • Turning it around: As of July 1, Zack Godley was 9-6 with a 5.07 ERA, 92/50 strikeout-to-walk rate and a .273 opponent average. Over his past six appearances, he is 3-0 with a 2.64 ERA, 38/9 K/BB and a .207 opponent average.
  • Kole Calhoun was the most added player in ESPN leagues this week, as he has gone 29-for-93 (.312) with 11 homers, 26 RBIs, 21 runs and a 1.130 OPS over his past 25 games.
  • Jose Reyes found his way into the record books this week after becoming the first player in the modern era to allow two home runs, pitching in the Mets’ 25-4 debacle on Tuesday, and then hitting two homers the next day. His record is about as impressive and memorable as Mohammed Kursheed Hussain’s ability to type 103 characters in 47 seconds … with his nose.

Team Name of the Week

The Constant Gardner

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