Michael Wacha dropped from 3rd to 7th in ERA on Thursday night on the Boston Red Sox

Michael Wacha pitching on Thursday night at the Chicago White Sox. (Photo from MLB.com Video: https://www.mlb.com/gameday/red-sox-vs-white-sox/2022/05/26/661486#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=videos,game=661486)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Michael Wacha gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings pitched, but the Boston Red Sox still won 16-7 at the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.

Wacha has not given up three or more runs since April 5th (which was his last Spring Training start).

He also tied for the lowest innings pitched he has went this regular season which he also did in his first regular season game on April 11th.

For Wacha, Thursday's game was one of his worst of the regular season as he allowed seven hits (a regular season high) and tied for the lowest strikeout total this regular season (two strikeouts).

He gave up just one home run (which he also did on May 20th), but he did not walk a single batter which was his best performance all regular season.

If Wacha could have just gotten two more outs, he would have got his fourth win of the regular season.

He threw 65.91% of his pitches for strikes on Thursday night which was the second-best for him this regular season. He threw 58 strikes which was a regular season-high, and his 88 pitches were the second-highest this regular season.

Boston improves to 6-1 in Wacha's starts and the Red Sox now have a six-game winning streak when he pitches.

Wacha is likely going to start again on May 31st vs. the Cincinnati Reds.

So below I provide statistics from before Thursday's game (yesterday) and after Thursday's game to see how much Wacha (or at least his teammates) improved or did not improve.

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Before Thursday night’s game, Michael Wacha had the third best ERA (1.76). Fourth-best true run average (1.76) and very true run average (1.76) on the team.

Wacha had the most actual wins (2.926) of any Red Sox pitcher.

Has the fifth-fewest actual losses among all Red Sox pitchers (.333) and second-fewest among Boston starting pitchers (Austin Davis is first with .244).

Has the third-best winning percentage (.898) among all Red Sox pitchers (only Kevin Plawecki and John Schreiber are better and haven’t given up any runs to the opponent in Boston losses so far this regular season).

Based on performance, ranked as the eighth-best Red Sox pitcher (.565) and ranked as the second-best Boston pitcher among starters (Austin Davis is first at .794).

Had the most innings pitched (26 1/3) in Boston wins.

Had the fewest innings pitched (4 1/3) in Red Sox losses among Boston starters and ranked as the fourth-fewest amount of innings pitched among all Red Sox pitchers in Boston losses.

Ranked 6th in most innings pitched among Boston pitchers (30 2/3) this regular season.

Has given up five runs in Red Sox wins and just one run in Boston losses this regular season. Has given up the fewest amount of runs (six) among any Red Sox starter this regular season (except for Austin Davis who has only given up four runs).

Has the fewest amount of potential losses (2.667) among all Red Sox starters (except for Austin Davis who has .530).

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Before Friday night’s game (today), Michael Wacha had the seventh-best ERA (2.83). Fifth-best true run average (2.83) and very true run average (2.83) on the team.

Wacha has the most actual wins (3.407) of any Red Sox pitcher.

He was just 2/3 of an inning pitched away on Thursday night from guaranteeing that he will have the most actual wins of any Red Sox pitcher after his next start.

He also was just 1/3 of an inning pitched away from being one full win away from the next-best Red Sox pitcher (Nick Pivetta) for the most actual wins of any Boston pitcher before his next start.

Has the fifth-fewest actual losses among all Red Sox pitchers (.333) and second-fewest among Boston starting pitchers (Austin Davis is first with .244).

Has the third-best winning percentage (.911) among all Red Sox pitchers (only Kevin Plawecki and John Schreiber are better and haven’t given up any runs to the opponent in Boston losses so far this regular season).

Based on performance, ranked as the tenth-best Red Sox pitcher (.539) and ranked as the third-best Boston pitcher among starters (Austin Davis is first at .803 and Tanner Houck is second at .548).

Has the most innings pitched (30 2/3) in Boston wins.

Had the fewest innings pitched (4 1/3) in Red Sox losses among Boston starters and ranked as the fourth-fewest amount of innings pitched among all Red Sox pitchers in Boston losses.

Tied for 3rd-place in most innings pitched among Boston pitchers (30 2/3) this regular season.

Has given up ten runs in Red Sox wins and just one run in Boston losses this regular season. Has given up the fewest amount of runs (11) among any Red Sox starter this regular season (except for Austin Davis who has only given up four runs).

Has the fewest amount of potential losses (3.381) among all Red Sox starters (except for Austin Davis who has .530 and Tanner Houck who has 3.174).

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NOTE: Very true run average and run average include all runs scored. So they are not like earned runs. Very true run average is more accurate than true run average because it doesn't blame a pitcher for allowing a baserunner to start on second base in extra innings. True run average blames the pitcher for allowing a baserunner to start on second base to start extra innings. Other than that, very true run average and true run average are more accurate and truthful than earned run average (earned runs) and run average (runs).

MORE NOTES: All statistics in the story above are from after the Thursday, May 26th, 2022 game and before the Friday, May 27th, 2022 game (unless otherwise noted). This story was posted on Friday, May 27th, 2022.