RHP prospect Chris Archer will join the Rays Friday, getting recalled to give the team a potential spot starter for the last month of the season.

Archer, 23, was impressive in a short stint with Tampa Bay earlier this season, going 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA while filling in for then-injured RHP Jeremy Hellickson. Archer was 7-9 with a 3.66 ERA in 25 starts for Triple-A Durham. 

With Rays manager Joe Maddon saying Wednesday RHP Alex Cobb will probably have three starts left, as they try to monitor his career-high in innings workload, Archer provides some flexibility as a spot starter.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@tampabay.com