How Michael Wacha cruised through season-high 7 shutout innings vs. White Sox
It took Royals pitcher Michael Wacha until April 26 to make it through six innings in a game.
Through five starts to open the season, the right-hander took either a loss or a no-decision.
Since April 26, however, it’s been a different story for the 33-year-old: Wacha has allowed just three runs in 19.1 innings. And he reached a new season-high for innings pitched in a game on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium, where the Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 2-1.
Wacha threw seven shutout innings, going deeper into a game than he has all year.
“I felt good,” he said. “I felt like our mix was really good, felt like me and (catcher Luke Maile) got on a little page where the communication between innings was coming to fruition out there on the field.”
Wacha surrendered just three hits and struck out five. He utilized a balanced arsenal across 84 pitches, throwing his four-seamer 26 times (31%) and changeup 18 (21%).
“I felt like things are starting to come around where (I) can throw stuff for strikes at any counts,” he said, “and then be able to expand on it whenever I need to. I’ve got some weapons that can stay unpredictable and stay on the attack with them.”
Speaking ot unpredictability, one of Wacha’s lesser-used pitches Wednesday was his cutter. He threw it 14 times, and that was also the pitch that generated the most whiffs by White Sox batters.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro complimented Wacha’s changeup and slider, too.
“It was awesome ...” Quatraro said of the right-hander’s performance on the mound. “First time getting through seven, efficient ... The efficiency, getting ahead, the changeup and the slider were really good, especially early in the game tonight.”
Wacha said he could’ve kept going, but Quatraro indicated he didn’t want to push it.
“It crossed my mind,” Quatraro said of possibly sending Wacha back out to pitch the eighth inning. “But with those guys rested in the back end, and like I said, that was his first time getting through seven, so that’s what went into that decision.”
All of Wacha’s run support came in the fifth inning. Maile led off with a line-drive single to left; later, with two away, Bobby Witt Jr. brought him home with his fifth home run of the season, a 392-foot shot to left-center.
“It’s unbelievable,” Witt said of Wacha’s performance. “I’ll keep saying that we’ve got five aces, five horses out there throwing. But just to see what he’s been doing and how consistent he is, and just how every one of our guys are, it’s incredible.”
Wacha added another milestone: 1,500 innings pitched. He now ranks No. 20 among active major-leaguers, behind White Sox lefty Martín Pérez, who’s at No. 19 with 1,595.2.
After Wednesday’s win, Royals starters boast an AL-best 3.02 ERA. That’s owing in part to how Wacha has settled in as the season has progressed.
“Just taking some things from each outing,” he said of his recent stretch of success. “Going through a little self evaluation, going over each outing. What can we do better, what can we improve on from outing to outing? ... It’s just always learning and always trying to take that game to another level.
“But that’s a good one,” Wacha said of Wednesday night’s showing. “Good one to build on and look forward to the next one.”
This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
