Archer Has 3rd Straight Game with Double-Digit Strikeouts, No Walks

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer set an MLB record in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners, becoming the first player (since at least 1914) to record double-digit strikeouts and no walks in three consecutive starts, per MLB Stat of the Day.

Archer gave up one unearned run on six hits over seven innings, striking out 11 batters as he improved to 7-4 on the season.

He previously had 12 strikeouts and no walks over eight innings against the Mariners on May 27 and then matched a franchise record with 15 strikeouts—again without surrendering a walk—last Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels.

Over his last three outings, the 26-year-old breakout star has 38 strikeouts and no walks, having allowed just two runs (one earned) over 23 innings.

He was already in the midst of a fantastic season and now owns a 1.84 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 108-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio to go along with the 7-4 record.

The early favorite to win the American League Cy Young Award, Archer leads the league in strikeouts while ranking second among qualified starters in ERA, third in WHIP and fourth in innings (83.0).

Though his age makes some degree of improvement unsurprising, it's shocking just how much better Archer has become since last season, when he posted a 3.33 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 173-72 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 194.2 innings.