Wacha didn't factor into the decision during Tuesday's win over Toronto, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out four batters across 4.1 innings.

EDGE Analysis

The Blue Jays reached base with consistency versus Wacha on Tuesday, but the 32-year-old was able to pitch himself out of jams more often than not. As a result, he required 96 pitches to get through 4.1 frames -- his shortest start of the season so far. He owns a 3.81 ERA and 1.27 WHIP across 28.1 innings through his first five starts as a Royal and projects to pitch again Sunday in Detroit.

Wacha (1-2) was charged with the loss in Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the White Sox after he gave up two runs on four hits and two walks across six innings. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander allowed only single tallies in the fourth and sixth innings, but that was enough to saddle him with the loss as Kansas City mustered just one run. It's the second quality start of the season for Wacha, and he's last at least five frames in all four of his starts. The 32-year-old has a 3.75 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB over 24 innings.

Wacha (1-1) took the loss Friday, coughing up five runs on 10 hits and two walks over six innings as the Royals were downed 6-1 by the Mets. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander managed to keep the ball in the park, but that might have been the only silver lining to his performance as Wacha tossed 56 of 84 pitches for strikes before getting the hook and managed only seven swinging strikes. Despite the stumble, he'll take a 4.00 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB through 18 innings into his next start, which is scheduled for next week on the road against the White Sox.

Wacha (1-0) picked up the win Saturday versus the White Sox, permitting just two hits and a walk over seven scoreless frames while striking out eight.

EDGE Analysis

Wacha yielded a one-out double to Martin Maldonado in the sixth inning when the game was still scoreless, but that was the only time all night when you could say he encountered any ounce of trouble. The right-hander cruised through his seven innings on 93 pitches, registering 10 swinging strikes along the way. He's struck out 13 and allowed only five hits in his first 12 innings this season.

Wacha did not factor into the decision Monday against the Orioles, allowing three runs on three hits and one walk over five innings. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

Wacha drew a tough matchup in his Royals debut as he had to face a difficult Orioles lineup in Baltimore. He was pitching well until the fourth inning, when the Orioles managed to collect three runs on three hits, including a 408-foot Ryan Mountcastle two-run homer. Outside of the fourth inning, Wacha fared well Monday, relying heavily on his patented changeup (30.6 percent usage rate), generating seven whiffs with the pitch. The 32-year-old righty is tentatively scheduled to face the White Sox at home in his next start.

Manager Matt Quatraro said Monday that Wacha will not miss time due to a bruised right middle finger, Jackson Stone of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wacha sustained the injury Sunday during an intrasquad game. Quatraro added that Wacha woke up Monday morning and "forgot about" the injury, so the right-hander should be ready for his first regular season start against the Orioles on April 1.

Wacha suffered a bruised right middle finger during an intrasquad game Sunday and will undergo X-rays, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Royals are optimistic it's not a worrisome injury, but Wacha's status will be a bit up in the air until the results of the X-rays are known. Assuming it's not a serious issue, Wacha may still be able to make his first start of the season next weekend versus Minnesota.

Wacha has allowed one run on three hits and struck out three without walking a batter over three innings across his first two Cactus League starts.

EDGE Analysis

Wacha's doing just fine in spring training. The veteran right-hander will need to stay healthy to be an effective starter, but he's logged 20-plus starts in each of the last three seasons while keeping his ERA under 3.50 in the last two years. The Royals' pitching staff was a weakness in 2023, and signing Wacha to a two-year deal addressed that concern. He'll likely continue to offer solid control and an ability to keep the ball in the yard, but he may regress in the surface stats in his age-32 season.

Wacha signed a two-year, $32 million contract with the Royals on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The deal includes an opt out after the first year. Kansas City has been busy lately, adding Seth Lugo and now Wacha to its rotation in addition to Hunter Renfroe to its outfield and Will Smith to its bullpen. Wacha hasn't made 30 starts in a season since 2017, but he's been very effective when healthy over the last two seasons, collecting a 3.27 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 228:74 K:BB over 261.2 innings.

Wacha declined his $6.5 million player option for 2024 on Monday and will become a free agent.

EDGE Analysis

After the Padres informed Wacha that they wouldn't exercise a two-year, $32 million option that would keep him on the books through 2025, the veteran right-hander declined to decline an option of his own, albeit at a less favorable annual salary. Wacha presumably feels he can find a better deal on the open market, a fair conclusion after he turned in a 3.22 ERA (4.30 xERA), 1.16 WHIP and 14.6 K-BB% in 134.1 innings for the Friars in 2023. Durability has been a concern for Wacha for much of his career -- he hasn't made 30 starts in a season since 2017 -- so he may not be able to find a team that's willing to sign him to more than a two- or three-year deal as he heads into his age-32 campaign.