Chris Archer has a bunch of problems this early into the 2019 season.
The Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher received a five-game suspension for his role in a melee Sunday at PNC Park. Archer threw a 93-mph fastball behind Reds first baseman Derek Dietrich after he smashed a homer in the 2nd inning and watched it as it left the park.
Aside from that suspension, Archer likely has more trouble on his way after viewers noticed a dark spot near his waistline during that start against the Reds.
“Why would I put pine tar on my shirt?” Archer told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Monday. “There’s a drawstring that comes loose, so I was trying to keep my pants up,” he said. “Since we hit and hit in the cage and do all that pregame, I guess at some point I got something on my shirt. A spot that’s like the size of a quarter.”
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Using a foreign substance on the mound is illegal, but it’s rarely enforced.
Archer pitched six innings Sunday, allowing five hits and three runs.
“A lot of people use foreign substance that’s illegal, so to throw that out, it’s more of like a personal vendetta than anything,” Archer said.
