Wacha agreed to a three-year, $51 million contract with the Royals on Sunday that includes a $14 million club option for 2028, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The right-hander was expected to decline his $16 million player option for 2025, but Kansas City utilized the exclusive five-day negotiating window after the World Series to secure a new deal. Wacha was a key rotation piece for the Royals during their 2024 resurgence with a 3.35 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 145:45 K:BB over 166.2 innings.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Named Game 4 starter
Rotowire
Wacha will start Thursday in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Yankees, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Wacha had a rough outing in Game 1 on Saturday, allowing three earned runs on four hits and three walks over four innings en route to a loss. The 33-year-old righty is no stranger to poor postseason performances, as he owns a 5.36 ERA over 42 innings across nine playoff appearances in his career.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Named ALDS Game 1 starter
Rotowire
Wacha will start Saturday in Game 1 of the ALDS versus the Yankees, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Wacha had been lined up for Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series, but with the Royals completing a two-game sweep of the Orioles, the righty will be held back for the ALDS opener. He'll be opposed by Gerrit Cole.
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Royals' Michael Wacha: Goes five innings vs. Nats
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Wacha didn't factor into the decision Thursday versus Washington, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out two.
Three of the four runs charged to Wacha came on a Luis Garcia homer in the third inning. The veteran right-hander hadn't allowed more than two runs in four starts coming into Thursday, posting a 1.99 ERA in that span (22.2 innings). Wacha will finish a solid campaign with a 13-8 record, 3.35 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 145:45 K:BB across 166.2 innings.
Wacha (9-3) took the loss Friday against the Giants, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.
After rattling off back-to-back wins, the 33-year-old fell one out short of his 15th quality start in this 96-pitch outing. The Giants managed only two Heliot Ramos extra-base hits off Wacha, while both runs came on RBI singles. He has allowed two or fewer runs in four straight starts, pitching to a 1.58 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 23:6 K:BB across 22.2 innings. Wacha currently lines up to make his final outing of the regular season at Washington next week.
Wacha (13-7) picked up the win in Saturday's 5-1 victory over the Pirates, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out eight.
The right-hander got staked to a 1-0 lead before he stepped on the mound and never relinquished it, generating 18 swinging strikes among his 93 pitches. Wacha has gone an impressive 9-1 in 13 starts since the beginning of July, posting a 2.67 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 71:20 K:BB over 77.2 innings during that stretch. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Giants.
Wacha (12-7) allowed four hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings Sunday, striking out seven and earning a win over Minnesota.
Wacha escaped some danger in the first inning but didn't allow a runner to reach scoring position for the rest of his outing. He got right back in the win column after taking his first loss in over two months in his last start. Wacha forced 16 whiffs, the second-highest total he's produced this season. Of those 16, 12 came via the changeup. Wacha dropped his season ERA to 3.34 with a 130:40 K:BB through 151 innings. His next outing is projected to be in Pittsburgh.
