ST. PETERSBURG -- Rays right-hander Chris Archer has waited a long time for this moment. After suffering right lateral forearm tightness and leaving the game on April 10 against the Yankees, then enduring the death of his mother, then suffering a hip injury that prolonged his rehab, Archer is set to start in Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the White Sox at Tropicana Field.

“I think he’s excited for Sunday, and he should be,’’ Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We’re excited for him.’’

“A lot of things have happened over the course of the last 4 1/2 months,’’ said Archer, who was signed as a free agent on Feb. 9. “There’s no place I’d rather be than on that mound wearing those Sunday blues.’’

Archer said he battled “physical ailments’’ as well as a “mental ailment’’ during his family issues, setting him back considerably. But at the moment, Archer said he feels all the way back. The extended time off has helped him feel “maybe a little bit freer, more athletic’’ from a physical standpoint.

“My stuff feels great,’’ said Archer, who was 54-68 in seven seasons (2012-18) with the Rays before being traded to the Pirates. “I’m looking forward to putting it on display.’’

The loss of his mother still stings, and he is working to keep her memory alive. Archer is wearing a ring he got from his mother on his necklace.

“I’m going to have it on me … like she’s always there,’’ Archer said. “The charisma and energy and the life I have out there, it’s all her.

“It will be different. I’ve pitched pretty much every game in my life, at least at the big league level, where my mom was either watching or she was in the stands. It will be different, but it’s motivating. It’s encouraging. It’s not one of those things that brings me down by any means. If anything, I want to allow my mom’s legacy to shine through me even more.’’

Roster moves
The Rays called up right-hander David Hess from Triple-A Durham. Hess was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training and made 13 appearances for Durham before a trade to the Marlins on July 3. After being designated for assignment by Miami on Aug. 15, Hess signed with Tampa Bay as a Minor League free agent on Friday.

Cash said Hess is the latest example of the Rays striving to keep fresh bullpen arms available, so roles can be preserved and no one is overtaxed.

Right-hander Chris Mazza, who was called up from Durham and pitched two innings in Friday’s 7-5, 11-inning loss to the White Sox, saw his eighth stint this season with the Rays again lead to the Durham revolving door. To make room for Hess on the 40-man roster, Durham first baseman Mike Ford was designated for assignment.