Standing ovations and upbeat social media posts greeted Chris

Archer when the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired the right-handed starter at the non-waiver trade deadline.Then came an unsteady August — 1-2 with a 6.45 ERA in five starts http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-max-kepler-jersey , none more than five innings.September started off better, and Archer (4-7, 4.56 ERA) will be looking to improve his Pirates resume Friday when he faces the Miami Marlins in a series opener at PNC Park.Article continues below ...He is coming off a no-decision Saturday in 5-3 Pittsburgh loss to Atlanta that could not be hung on him. Archer gave up two hits in six innings.“Finally got some good results. It felt good,” Archer said. “It stinks that we lost as a team, but they’re in first place in their division for a reason.”Archer, who was perfect through the first three innings, did two things that made a difference. He pitched out of the stretch, and he purposely did not question a call by veteran catcher Francisco Cervelli.“I just went back to the basics http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-max-kepler-jersey ,” Archer said. “It was a lot of fun to just look at the target and throw and not have to think about sequencing. That was all (Cervelli).“The No. 1 thing was trust in Cervelli. I didn’t shake him at all. Literally, I did not shake him one time. I was basically like his little toy. … He said, ‘Papi, just trust me. Trust me, trust me, trust me.’ And it takes time. I looked at his resume, and I was like, ‘You know what? He’s right.'”Archer will be looking for his second quality start for the Pirates on Friday after he struck out five Jason Castro Jersey , walked one needed just 86 pitches against the Braves.He is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in three career starts against the Marlins, all while he was with Tampa Bay.Pittsburgh (69-71) is coming off a three-game series sweep of Cincinnati going into the second half of a homestand against another team that is last in its division.A second straight sweep would put the Pirates back above .500. Miami (56-84) is 3-2 since a four-game losing streak and, before a day off Thursday, took two of three from Philadelphia.The Marlins will send right-hander Dan Straily (5-6, 4.13 ERA) against Archer.On a team that has struggled for every win and now is taking a long look at prospects — such as right-hander Sandy Alcantara, who pitched seven-plus scoreless innings Wednesday in a 2-1 win over Philadelphia — Straily has come on as a reliable veteran as the season has unfolded.In his past 12 starts, he has given up three runs or fewer 10 times, with seven quality starts. He is 3-3 with a 3.64 ERA in that stretch.In Straily’s first 10 starts Phil Hughes Jersey , he was 2-3 with a 4.89 ERA with two quality starts.He is coming off a no-decision last Friday when he pitched a season-high eight innings, allowing one run, before relievers Drew Steckenrider and Kyle Barraclough blew a four-run lead in the ninth of a 6-5 loss to Toronto.“It’s a tough one to take, obviously,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “Dan pitched a quality game all day, and to not be able to get that last out is frustrating for everyone.”In a tough situation during a tough season, Straily defended Steckenrider and Barraclough.“At the end of the day, those guys are very good back-end relievers http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-max-kepler-jersey ,” he said.Straily is 3-3 with a 4.24 ERA in 11 career appearances against Pittsburgh. KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Josh Donaldson plans to play in his first spring training game for the Atlanta Braves on Friday night against Philadelphia.After being slowed by injuries for two seasons, the 33-year-old third baseman signed a $23 million, one-year contract with the Braves and spent the first two weeks of the exhibition season strengthening his legs, feet and toes. He also tried to “to clean up some running technique issues that I’ve had in the past.”“It’s been awesome to come out here every day and to be able put some quality work in, and not have to tend to the calf,” he said. “Last year I had some shoulder issues to where I wasn’t really going into the season feeling right.”The 2015 AL MVP award winner with Toronto, Donaldson was limited to 113 games in 2017 and 52 games last season http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-max-kepler-jersey , when he was traded from the Blue Jays to Cleveland on Aug. 31.Donaldson likely will get two plate appearances Friday, then not play Saturday. He doesn’t have a set amount of plate appearances in mind for spring training.“The last week or so I’ve been kind of chomping at the bit,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of conversations and we’re just trying to be smart about everything, check all the boxes off. I’m looking forward to be being able to go out there and play.”