Pirates' Chris Archer (neck, shoulder) out until 2021

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Chris Archer (neck, shoulder) underwent surgery Tuesday to "relieve symptoms of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome."

What It Means:

Archer will not be available until the 2021 season. The issue may help explain why Archer recorded an ERA above 5.00 last year for the first time in his career. The 31-year-old right-hander reported discomfort in his right neck/shoulder area in March during spring training. He is 6-12 with a 4.92 ERA in 33 starts since being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays at the 2018 trade deadline.

Archer posted a 5.19 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with a 27.2 strikeout percentage in 119 2/3 innings last season.