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Can Drew Anderson be a solution to Tigers' sinking bullpen whiff rate?
TL;DR
Drew Anderson has shown improvement in his pitching, particularly in the bullpen, after signing a $7 million deal with the Tigers. His recent performance includes increased velocity and effective strikeouts.
Key points
- Drew Anderson signed a $7 million deal with the Tigers.
- He was initially signed as a starter but is needed in the bullpen.
- Anderson has shown improved pitch velocity recently.
- He struck out two of three batters in a recent game.
- The Tigers need pitchers who can miss bats.
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Drew Anderson
TigersReds
Cincinnati ā The Tigers didnāt sign Drew Anderson to a $7 million deal this offseason to pitch mop-up innings. They signed him to be a starter, initially, but mostly, they signed him because he brings an element thatās lacking on the pitching staff, especially in the bullpen ā the ability to miss bats.
Itās taken a few weeks and a few messy outings, but there are signs that heās rounding into the pitcher they need him to be.
āThat was me,ā Anderson said after throwing a crisp and clean eighth inning Friday night in the Tigersā tough 9-8 loss to the Reds.
The velocity on all three off the pitches he used ticked up considerably. The four-seamer was up 2.4 mph to 96.5 mph. He was averaging 90.4 mph on his changeup (up 1.9 mph) and he was breaking off 81.5-mph curveballs (up 2.6 mph).
He punched out two of the three batters he faced and was in control of all three hitters.
Tigers pitcher Drew Anderson has given up 12 hits and 10 runs with 12 strikeouts in 12.1 innings this season.
āI think itās just more repetitions,ā Anderson said. āJust feeling good. Blame it on the warmer weather (laughs). Itās just getting more comfortable. It took a minute to get used to the bullpen.ā
The Tigers went into play Saturday ranked last in baseball in bullpen whiff rate. Itās been an issue for a couple of years. Anderson is expected to be part of the solution there, eventually.
Which is why his performance Friday was so encouraging.
āI know itās important to him and I know itās important for us to have that pitcher on the mound,ā manager AJ Hnich said. āAs we saw, it is pretty dynamic. It was impactful. He missed some bats. ā¦ He did his job.
Q&A
What improvements has Drew Anderson made in his pitching performance?
Drew Anderson has increased his pitch velocity, with his four-seamer reaching 96.5 mph and effective strikeouts in recent outings.
Why did the Tigers sign Drew Anderson for $7 million?
The Tigers signed Drew Anderson to enhance their pitching staff, particularly to address their bullpen's inability to miss bats.
How did Drew Anderson perform in his recent game against the Reds?
In the game against the Reds, Drew Anderson threw a clean eighth inning, striking out two of the three batters he faced.
What is the significance of Drew Anderson's increased pitch velocity?
The increased pitch velocity indicates that Drew Anderson is rounding into form, which is crucial for the Tigers' bullpen effectiveness.